Ladies Night Out XVI
Date: April 16, 2026
Location: HyperX Arena Las Vegas At The Luxor, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Emily Mae, Rae Lyn

This is a women’s supershow and seems to be part of at least a somewhat recurring promotion. That could go in a lot of ways but it is great that we have reached the point where women’s wrestling can have this kind of a show. I’ve seen enough good women’s wrestling this week to think that this could work rather well so let’s get to it.

The hosts welcome us to the show and ask who is here to see some professional wrestling. You mean they’re not here for an Amway presentation?

Vipress vs. Lacey Lane

They shove each other to start until Lane ties the arms back and slaps her in the chest. Back up and the threat of a right hand lets Vipress dance a bit, only to get dropkicked out to the floor. Vipress gets back in and snapmares her for a dancing kick to the chest. Some chops have Lane in more trouble but she avoids a charge. A spinning springboard legdrop connects but Vipress Death Valley Drivers her into the corner for two. Vipress goes for the hair but gets backdropped into a cradle for two more. Lane sends her to the apron and a hanging Pedigree finishes Vipress off at 5:05.

Rating: C. They didn’t have a ton of time but they kept things moving here for a fast paced opener. Lane is someone who can work in just about any spot and it makes sense to spotlight her here after her time in WWE. I could go for having her back in a bigger promotion, as she definitely has the talent to be a player somewhere. You also have Vipress, who has been around a lot over these last few and has quite a bit of potential of her own.

Madisyn Maxxwell vs. Brittnie Brooks vs. Carolina Cruz vs. Mazzerati vs. Tiffany Nieves

Maxxwell seems to be a news anchor. Nieves chills on the floor but gets back in due to a lack of attention and the brawl is on. Everyone goes out to the floor and it’s Mazzerati vs. Cruz back inside in a battle between the two wearing checkered flags. Nieves comes back in to sit on Brooks’ back but gets broken up, allowing Brooks to bulldog Maxxwell. All of them get inside to slug it out for a five way knockdown and a breather. Mazzerati gives Cruz a spinning side slam but Brooks throws her outside…and Maxxwell throws Brooks outside to steal the pin at 5:04.

Rating: D+. You can only get so much out of this kind of a match and this really didn’t work. It was a big mess of a match with too much going on and pretty much no structure to the thing. In other words it came off like “yeah go do your thing for a few minutes and you win”, which doesn’t make for a great match.

Lexa Valo vs. Lili La Pescadita

Valo powers her into the corner to start and grinds away on a headlock while commentary babbles on (they’re bad about that) about how strong these two are. Lila muscles her over with a suplex but stops to dance before the cover. Valo goes with the power to put her down again and Lili can’t muscle her way up. The chinlock doesn’t last long so Valo hits a full nelson slam for two. Lili comes back with some clotheslines and a slam gets two, only for Valo to DDT her into a dragon sleeper for the tap at 5:27.

Rating: C. This show isn’t exactly giving me hope as these matches aren’t getting a bunch of time and it feels like they’re going more for quantity than quality. I get the thinking, but we barely heard anything about these two other than Valo is from Europe and Lili’s full name means Lili “little fish”, which commentary went on about for most of the match. At least there was a fresh pair of names in there, as it’s often fun to see some new stars.

WrestleLit Rumble

Raeven Marie, La Spooky, Kolbe Max, Kayla Lopez, Jem, Jazmyne Hao, Gema, Diamond Virago, Christyan XO

This is your standard battle royal and everyone comes to the ring at once so I have pretty much no idea whom is whom. Jem grabs some nipples (as commentary puts it) and gets tossed as a result. As the other women (who aren’t important enough for commentary to identify) brawl, XO comes in to tower over everyone.

XO hits a double chokeslam (minus the elevation) and dumps both of them. Another woman is out and XO gets a fourth (commentary isn’t saying names either) but for some reason, an attempt to toss XO is cut off. XO gets rid of the woman who tries to toss her and we’re down to three. Spooky clotheslines Marie (hey names) out and goes after XO, even managing to get her to the apron. XO knocks her out for the win at 7:58.

Rating: D. Oh yeah this show is going downhill in a hurry as there was nothing to this one either. The fact that commentary didn’t bother telling me who most of these people were didn’t help, nor did XO coming off like she was this match’s Andre. It makes sense as XO is already in ROH, but that doesn’t make her the most interesting person to watch. Pretty terrible stuff here.

Alexis Littlefoot vs. Monica Monroe

Littlefoot is from Lexington so she’s off to a good start. Monroe grabs a headlock to start and flips over Littlefoot in the corner but gets hammered down rather quickly. An ax kick (or faceplant according to commentary) gets two on Monroe and Littlefoot gives her a spinning back elbow for two. Littlefoot’s DDT out of the corner gets two more and we hit the chinlock. Monroe fights up and drops down onto her for the break, followed by a powerslam. A non-running Lionsault finishes Littlefoot at 4:34.

Rating: C. That might be the best match of the show thus far, which is mainly due to them finally slowing down a bit and having a match. It helps that it was just the two of them rather than trying to squeeze in everyone they could. This wasn’t great by any means, but I’ll take what I can get on a show like this.

Poder Title: Brittany Blake vs. Jazzy Yang vs. Kristin Blaze vs. Sai Perez

Blake is defending. Blaze and Blake hit hurricanrana and dropkicks to put the other two on the floor, leaving Blaze to grab an armbar. Yang and Perez pull Blaze outside for stereo superkicks before going after Blake back inside. That’s enough working together though as Yang and Perez go after each other, allowing Blaze to high crossbody both of them. Blake is back in with a top rope double stomp to Perez’s back to retain at 4:05.

Rating: C-. So the theme here seems to be “get everyone in as fast as you can and don’t worry about anything else”. That’s not helping much as the matches are hardly getting the chance to be set up. There are talented people in here and I’ve seen them do good things this week and otherwise, but this isn’t a good way to showcase them.

Myka Madria/Selene Hysteria vs. Joseline Navarro/Vanity

Commentary goes away to start this match as Navarro and Vanity take turns tagging before starting in with action. Vanity drops Madria and gives her a legdrop, followed by a running low blow in the corner. Some double stomping has Madria down again but it’s an enziguri for the tag off to Hysteria. Everything breaks down and Navarro grabs a Tombstone for the pin at 4:12.

Rating: C-. Well the problem doesn’t seem to be the commentary, but rather four mostly unknown stars fighting rather quickly for about four minutes. There’s just not much that can be done in such a match and they didn’t really pull it off here. As has been the case, it’s not that they aren’t trying or that it’s terrible, but rather it’s just in and out so fast that it doesn’t have a chance.

Sofia Sivan vs. Rachel Ley vs. Corrine Joy vs. Fallyn Grey

Grey is WWE ID Prospect Veronica Haven and she has quite the set of wings, which feels a bit too high level for this show. We get a handshake to start and Sivan and Joy clear the ring rather easily. Sivan flips around a lot and suplexes Grey onto Joy. They go outside with Sivan diving off the ramp to take out the other three. Back in and Ley gives Sivan a handspring elbow in the corner and Grey adds a Bronco Buster. Grey rolls over to give Ley an X Factor but gets brainbustered by Sivan. Ley moonsaults onto Sivan but Grey is up with a spinning full nelson faceplant to pin Ley at 5:46.

Rating: C+. The best thing here is they were actually doing something different for a change. That helps quite a bit as you don’t want the same stuff every single match, especially with a previous four way on the card. If nothing else, it was nice to see them go out of the ring, just for a change of pace. Mixing it up a bit is a good thing, which hasn’t been the case very often thus far.

J-Rod vs. Notorious Mimi

Mimi is WWE ID Prospect Sloane Jacobs. The rather strong J-Rod shoves her down to start so Mimi goes to the apron and fires off a string of knees to the chest. Back in and a fall away slam sends Mimi flying and it’s time to stomp away in the corner. Mimi’s forearms don’t do much good as J-Rod is right back with a spinebuster.

A big boot puts Mimi down for two and J-Rod puts her in the torture rack. With that broken up, Mimi grabs a hurricanrana and uses it to ram J-Rod’s head into the corner over and over (that’s a new one). Mimi kicks her in the face a few times, followed by a high crossbody for two. Back up and J-Rod sends her hard into the corner, setting up a spear for the pin at 6:30.

Rating: C+. That was a nice surprise, as I wasn’t going to expect Mimi, a WWE prospect, to lose here. That being said, J-Rod has stood out quite a bit over the week as she looks like one of the best athletes you’ll see anywhere in wrestling and can do the power game rather well. This was one of the better matches on the show thus far and that is nice to see.

Frankie B./Kingsley vs. Shazza McKenzie/Laynie Luck

Frankie and Kingsley jump them to start and a double suplex drops McKenzie for an early two. A basement dropkick/running kick to the back combination gets two and we settle down a bit. McKenzie gets choked in the corner, which draws Luck in for a failed save attempt.

Luck gets drawn in again so McKenzie can be sent into the corner again (kind of a cause and effect thing there). McKenzie hurricanranas her way out of trouble, allowing the tag off to Luck to clean house. Everything breaks down and a faceplant sets up a slam to send Frankie onto McKenzie’s raised knees. McKenzie Stunners Kingsley into a middle rope cutter from Luck for the pin at 5:35.

Rating: C+. They’re on a bit of an upward swing here as this was another match where the talent involved helped. Luck and McKenzie are a regular team so they know each other well enough. It’s still too short to be much more than a midcard match, but the star power and in-ring chemistry boosted this up a bit more.

Angelica Risk vs. Sirena Veil vs. Lady Leigh

The ring announcer gets the entrances wrong and has to introduce Risk again. Risk hits an early hip attack on Veil, which has Veil running at both of them with corner forearms. Leigh kicks Veil down and plants Risk with a Michinoku Driver for two. Leigh loads up a DDT on Risk but Veil neckbreakers Leigh to drive her down as well. Risk jumps off of Leigh’s back for a Codebreaker and Veil gives Risk a Sister Abigail. Leigh is back up with some kind of weird Crossface variation to make Veil tap at 4:31.

Rating: C. This felt like a match that belonged on a low level independent show that wanted to make sure it had something involving women. It just felt like they were trying to have a match and didn’t really care what they did or how it lasted. Risk is someone who has been on various shows and I’ve seen Veil before. Leigh is fairly tall but that’s about all I can tell you about her after this match.

Jada Stone vs. Ruthie Jay

Stone works on the wristlock to start and grabs a headlock takeover. That’s reversed into a headscissors but Stone sends her outside for a baseball slide. Back in and Jay chops away before grabbing a rolling X Factor for two. Stone’s comeback attempt is easily cut off but she’s back up to chop away.

A kick to the head out of the corner puts Jay down and a moonsault hits Jay for two. Jay is right back with a northern lights suplex for two but Stone grabs a quick tornado DDT for the needed breather. Stone sends her outside for a moonsault to take Jay down again. Back in and the Spark (handspring) Stunner finishes Jay at 7:21.

Rating: C+. Stone has been turning into something better almost every week on Impact Wrestling and it’s cool to see her having some success elsewhere. The good thing is that she’s still in the ring and figuring out what she can do, which is how you become a better star. This was a slightly longer match than usual and it allowed Stone to build towards her comeback a bit more, which did help things out.

Su Yung/Lindsay Snow/Mickie Knuckles/Tara Zep vs. Freya The Slaya/Gypsy Mac/Haley J/Sammi Chaos

Yung and company (the PWO and I’ll let you guess what the P stands for) jump them from behind to start and it’s a brawl on the floor until Knuckles suplexes Freya back inside. Freya sends Knuckles into the corner and flips Zep into her. Back up and Knuckles rakes Freya’s eyes and a Saito suplex finishes at 3:14.

Rating: D-. And so much for that. This was a big brawl and about thirty seconds of action, which isn’t quite enough for an eight person match. It was a case where I actually knew some of the people involved and had some hope but again, there is only so much you can do with about twenty five seconds per participant.

Steph de Lander vs. Airica Demia

Demia is WWE ID Prospect Anya Rune. Before the match, de Lander says she was injured last year but this time she’s back to beat this stupid anime “b****”. De Lander shoves her around to start but Demia avoids a charge and strikes away. That’s enough for de Lander to be sent outside, where she catches Demia for a face first drop onto the apron. De Lander’s chop only hits post though but she’s fine enough to grab a snap suplex for two back inside

Demia tries to fight back but gets caught on top with a running big boot. A suplex out of the corner sets up a chinlock, followed by the driving shoulders to keep Demia in the corner. Demia fights out and they trade forearms, followed by Eat Defeat and a neckbreaker to give Demia two. De Lander’s spear gets two more and the frustration is setting in. Back up and Demia puts her in the corner for a palm strike, only for de Lander to grab an F5 for the pin at 8:08.

Rating: C+. De Lander has the power and size to be a threat to anyone and it’s good to have her back in the ring after such a long time away. She still tends to work better when she has someone to play off of though, which is likely why she works so well with Matt Cardona and Mance Warner. Demia is an interesting prospect, though a lot of that might be due to her fairly unique look.

Violent Romance vs. Ray Lyn/Alejandra Quintanilla

Violent Romance are Nixon Newell/Miranda Alize. Quintanilla and Alize start things off and they trade early armdrags. Alize can’t do anything with Quintanilla so it’s off to Newell vs. Lynn for an aggressive lockup. Newell runs her over but Lyn is back up with a running dropkick. The hip attack connects in the corner and Alize is thrown into the same corner for another hip attack, with some bonus shaking. It’s back to Quintanilla to rake Alize’s back but Newell takes over without much trouble.

Quintanilla gets sent into the corner and stomped down, with Lyn’s failed save attempt allowing the double teaming to continue. Some running shots in the corner keep Quintanilla down but she manages a reverse Sling Blade to Alize. Lyn is back in to kick away at Newell and a high crossbody gets two. Everything breaks down and a bunch of kicks to the face leaves them all down. Back up and Alize rakes Lyn’s eyes and it’s a cutter into the Shiniest Wizard for the pin on Lyn at 10:00.

Rating: B-. Well I’ll be danged they actually got to double digits. Newell and Alize work well together and, for the most part, this was playing to the standard formula. At the same time, it might have just been the best match out of so many by default. The extra time helped (imagine that) but Lyn was more of the “fun” style which is only going to work so well.

Ladies Night Out Title: Jazmin Allure vs. Izzy Moreno vs. La Rosa Negra

Allure is defending…here is Jazz as a special guest referee. Moreno starts fast by suplexing both of them for an early two each. With Moreno sent outside, Allure and Rosa slap it out, with Allure getting the better of things. A northern lights suplex gets two, with Moreno coming back in for the save. Rosa is back up with some shoulders in the corner, followed by some rolling suplexes for two on Moreno. An airplane spin gets two on Moreno and she is almost sent into Jazz.

Allure is back up on top and we get a Tower Of Doom to leave everyone down. Moreno is the least banged up and fires off some clotheslines, followed by a dive for two each. Rosa powerslams Moreno and drops a leg for two on Allure. Rosa’s frog splash misses though and Allure hits a cutter, with Moreno making a save. Moreno almost runs into Jazz again and Jazz won’t count a cover as a result. Allure grabs something like a Cemetery Drive to pin Moreno at 8:57.

Rating: C. The action was better as they kept things moving, but the Jazz stuff brought it right back down. Do they really need to run something close to an angle between Moreno and the retired Jazz when the promotion runs about one show a year? I don’t get this one, but this wasn’t much to see, even with some more familiar names involved.

Thunder Rosa vs. Vert Vixen

They fight over a lockup to no avail to start, with Vixen eventually driving her into the corner for a chop. Rosa chops her even harder and it’s a dropkick to put Vixen down. A clothesline gets two on Vixen but she sends Rosa into the corner. Vixen’s big boot gets two but Rosa sunset flips her out of the corner for two more. Commentary calls Vixen’s Michinoku Driver a “sitout bodyslam” and “pretty cool”, even as it gets two.

Vixen sends her into the corner for a sliding dropkick and knocks Rosa down for two more. Rosa is right back up with the clothesline comeback and some slingshot knees in the corner. Back up and Rosa’s charge is countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for two but a brainbuster is countered into a small package for two more. Rosa hurricanranas her into the corner and a Death Valley Driver plants Vixen for a rather near fall. A double stomp sets up a seated cobra clutch to make Vixen tap at 8:46.

Rating: B-. Vixen continues to be someone who can work well in there but she has never gotten the chance to do anything on the bigger stage. It’s nice to see her hanging in there against an established name like Rosa, but there was no doubt about the result here. The other problem is it came at the end of this marathon and it was hard to get interested in what they were doing.

Rosa thanks the fans to wrap up the night.

Overall Rating: D+. Well dang that was a lot. By my count, we had 62 wrestlers over 17 matches, which is quite a lot for any night, let alone a show that ran less than three hours. This was a show that absolutely went with the idea of getting as many people on the show as possible and that really didn’t work. They had talented people here and could have done a lot with some of them, but instead it was more about cranking out content. It doesn’t work in Ring Of Honor and it didn’t work here either as this was a miss via complete overload.

Results
Lacey Lane b. Vipress – Hanging Pedigree
Madisyn Maxwell b. Brittnie Brooks, Carolina Cruz, Mazzerati and Tiffany Nieves – Spinning side slam to Cruz
Lexa Valo b. Lili La Pescadita – Dragon sleeper
Christian XO won the WrestleLit Rumble last eliminating La Spooky
Monica Monroe b. Alexis Littlefoot – Lionsault
Brittany Blake b. Jazzy Yang, Kristin Blaze and Sai Perez – Top rope double stomp to Perez
Joseline Navarro/Vanity b. Myka Madria/Selene Hysteria – Tombstone to Hysteria
Fallyn Grey b. Sofia Sivan, Rachel Ley and Corrine Jay – Spinning full nelson faceplant to Ley
J-Rod b. Notorious Mimi – Spear
Shazza McKenzie/Laynie Luck b. Kingsley/Frankie B. – Middle rope cutter to Kingsley
Lady Leigh b. Angelica Risk and Sirena Veil – Crossface to Veil
Jada Stone b. Ruthie Jay – Spark Stunner
Su Yung/Lindsay Snow/Mickie Knuckles/Tara Zep b. Freya The Slaya/Gypsy Mac/Haley J/Sammi Chaos – Saito suplex to Slaya
Steph de Lander b. Airica Demia – F5
Violent Romance b. Ray Lyn/Alexander Quintanilla – Shiniest Wizard to Lyn
Jazmin Allure b. La Rosa Negra and Izzy Moreno – Cemetery Drive to Moreno
Thunder Rosa b. Vert Vixen – Seated cobra clutch

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Midnight Xpress
Date: April 15, 2026
Location: Horseshoe Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Emil Jay, Mo, Righteous Reg

What would Wrestlemania Week be without some cross promoted shows? That’s what we’re getting here, with Hybrid Wrestling teaming up with Pro Wrestling Unplugged. I’m really not sure what that is going to mean as I don’t follow either promotion, but that can make for some interesting results. Let’s get to it.

Opening video, featuring a bunch of people in rather shiny pants.

The ring announcer welcomes us to the show.

BackSeat Boyz vs. Effy/Joey Janela vs. Jordan Oliver/Ryan O’Neil

O’Neil is filling in for Alec Price, who was apparently injured earlier tonight while he…walked down some stairs. Effy on the other hand is apparently going a bit insane. Janela annoys JP to start and JP flips out of a wristlock. Effy comes in for a double atomic drop and a double hip shot to the head.

Oliver and O’Neil come in to clean house but the Boyz come in to clean house. A Devil’s Kiss has O’Neil in trouble and a spinning top rope splash gets two. Oliver makes the save and grabs a German suplex/rollup combination for two on both of the Boyz. Back up and the Boyz hit a Hart Attack into the Dream Sequence but Janela and Effy suplex them down.

Some clotheslines leave everyone on the mat for a breather and the fans get to count. The Boyz are up for a middle rope G9 and Tommy gives Effy an Air Raid Crash. O’Neil hits a Swanton for the ave but he walks into a double spinebuster to give the Boyz the quick pin at 10:18.

Rating: B-. Pretty nice three way tag with everyone going all over the place until the finish. The Boyz aren’t quite as good as the originals (shocking) but they do well enough for what they are. It’s a shame that Price is hurt as he and Oliver work well together and make for a good team. Effy being on the brink of snapping is interesting and you can all but guarantee to see more of that in the coming days.

Hybrid Women’s Title: Mia Friday vs. Brittnie Brooks vs. Ruthie Jay vs. Jazmin Allure

Jay is defending and Kiera Hogan is guest referee. We get a four way test of strength to start until Jay and Allure are knocked outside. Friday springboard armdrags Brooks down and sends her outside, only for Allure to trip Friday from the floor. Allure’s neckbreaker gets two on Friday but Brooks is back in with a double high crossbody.

Jay is back in with a rolling X Factor to Brooks, followed by an airplane spin of all things. Friday’s running neckbreaker makes Jay DDT Allure for two each but Brooks drops Friday with a belly to back. Jay sunset flips Allure for two but Hogan sees a rope being grabbed to cut it off. That has Jay yelling at Hogan so Friday grabs a rollup for the pin and the title at 6:51.

Rating: C. They didn’t have much time here and that hurt things a bit, especially with the ending being built around the guest referee. That being said, it’s nice to see a title change on a show like this, as you don’t often get such a thing. Unfortunately I still don’t know much about Friday, as storytelling is not quite the focal point of such a match. They did good spots in the time they had here, but they only had so much time in the first place.

Video on BLKOUT vs. VNDL48. They hate each other and keep attacking each other with lots of threats ensuing.

BLKOUT vs. VNDL48

That would be JGeorge/Robby Illuminati/Face (with Skillz da Great) vs. Atticus Cogar/Christian Napier/Otis Cogar. It’s a big brawl on the floor to start with 48 cleaning house and sending JGeorge inside for a triple beating. A moonsault and hilo hit JGeorge, who is busted open and favoring his ankle. Atticus gives him an Air Raid Crash but Face is back in to send the Cogars into each other.

Naturally it’s time for a door but Napier is back up to dropkick it into Face’s face. Atticus saves Napier from being suplexed through the door so Napier takes over on Illuminati. That doesn’t last long as Illuminati spears him through the door. The Cogars are back in to tie Face up with some rope in the ropes and of course it’s time for some skewers to JGeorge’s head. Otis loads up a chair to Face but Matt Tremont (who got the same thing before) runs in to cut it off…and the match just ends at we’ll say 10:00.

Rating: D+. What am I supposed to say here? It’s the hardcore/weapons match of the night (at least the first one) and they didn’t even have an ending. I’m still not sure why they’re fighting but they certainly did, though it wasn’t exactly much of a match. This felt more like a fight in a long running feud, and it would have helped if I had known why they were fighting. Or if someone won.

Post match Tremont takes his jacket off and he’s ready for his scheduled match as the other people leave. It’s as random as it sounds.

Matt Tremont vs. Gangrel

They start fighting in the aisle before the bell and chop it out at ringside. Gangrel goes to the eyes to cut him off and grabs a door before opting for a kendo stick. They go inside with Tremont using the kendo stick before grabbing the chairs. That means they both get to sit down and slug it out until Gangrel throws a chair at his head. Tremont misses a fork shot, which hits the door instead. A spear puts Gangrel through a door and the big splash gives Tremont the pin at 1:57. It might be better to keep it that short.

Post match, respect is shown.

Billy Gold/Kidd Legend/LiveDanger vs. Channing Decker/Corazon/Juni Underwood/Simon Gotch

The latter has a manager named Amadeus with them and LiveDanger is the team of LiveWire Charlie and Danger Ross (doing an 80s throwback). Danger and Decker lock up to start with Danger knocking him down. Charlie comes in to gorilla press Corazon into a fall away slam (that looked great) and it’s already off to Gotch vs. Legend for a slugout. Legend is sent into the wrong corner and triple teamed, which lasts all of a few seconds before he gets over to Gold.

Underwood gets taken into the wrong corner for a double gorilla press and everything breaks down (I’m stunned it took this long). That actually doesn’t last as it’s Charlie sending Corazon flying for the tag back to Danger. Everything breaks down and Corazon gets backdropped into a powerslam from LiveDanger (not bad) for the pin at 8:20.

Rating: C+. As usual, there is only so much to be gained out of this many people having so little time, though LiveDanger were a fun team with some nice combinations. If the Outrunners weren’t a thing, they could become a nice act on the circuit. The rest of the people didn’t have a chance to showcase themselves, but that’s how matches like this tend to go.

PWU Silver Skywalker Title: Deklan Grant vs. Angel Metro vs. Angel Orsini vs. Don Freeze vs. Jazmyne Hao vs. JJ Doze vs. Mickie Knuckles vs. Tarzan Duran

Grant is defending in an eight person scramble. Grant is sent outside fast to start and the other men join him. That leaves the four women in the ring but they would rather dive than fight each other. Doze is back in for some dives but Hao gives him a Samoan drop. Freeze drops Hao with a spinning belly to back suplex so Duran flips in with a slingshot double faceplant.

The door is set up on the floor, leaving Orsini to chop away at Duran. Orsini manages to get up top for a moonsault onto the pile so Knuckles gives her a suplex back inside. A door is broken over Knuckles’ head and Grant wraps a bag over her head. That and a piledriver is enough for Grant to pin Knuckles and retain at 7:59.

Rating: D. Between the random lineup, everyone going everywhere at once and the rather horrible ending, there was nothing to see here. I get why these scramble matches have to take place but my goodness they can be a wreck. At the same time, this show could really use some more one on one matches, as this was another mess of a match, but without the good parts.

1 Called Manders vs. Thomas Shire

Apparently PCO isn’t here so they’re fighting each other despite being partners and friends. Manders takes him into the corner for a…nice pat on the trunks. They trade big strikes in the corner until Manders hits a springboard (off the bottom rope) elbow of all things. Shire is back with an ax handle and they clothesline each other down.

They get back up for a slugout from their knees until Shire drops him with a German suplex. Manders hits a lariat from his knees and they go outside, which can’t end well. Shire cuts him off with a jumping knee and a spinning torture rack slam drops Manders for two back inside. Back up and Manders slips away from…something, setting up a heck of a lariat to pin Shire at 6:39.

Rating: B-. Maybe it was just the previous match being such a mess, but this was two big, strong guys beating the fire out of each other. Manders is not a complicated gimmick but he does it pretty well. I’m still not sure why he’s never gotten a chance elsewhere but he certainly gets the idea well enough. I haven’t seen much of Shire but he fits in well with Manders.

PWU Women’s Title: Lacey Lane vs. Mercedes Martinez vs. Priscilla Kelly

For the inaugural title and Kiera Hogan is guest referee. Martinez is sent outside early to start but comes back in to break up the cover. Lane rolls Kelly up for two but Martinez is back in to throw both of them down. Martinez is knocked into the corner, allowing Lane to Death Valley Driver Kelly into her.

Kelly knocks Martinez outside and kicks away at Lane, followed by a nasty looking suplex. Lane is knocked outside so Kelly teases a dive, only for Martinez to catch her with a spider superplex. Back up and Lane is sent outside again, leaving Martinez to spinebuster Kelly for the pin and the title at 7:02.

Rating: C+. They didn’t have much time out there but they were going as fast as they could with the time that they had. That’s not easy to do but it worked well here, with Martinez being the one who stayed in the ring most of the time. She doesn’t have much time left in the ring, though she can still more than hang in there. Lane did well too, as she’s quite the athlete who looks natural in the ring. That leaves Kelly, who more than held her own and will probably be back in a bigger promotion one day.

PWU Title: Jack Evans vs. Pat Dynamite

Dynamite is defending. They go with the grappling to start until Dynamite hits a quick dropkick to knock him outside. Back in and Evans gives him a handshake before posing on the ropes. An enziguri hits Dynamite to cut him off though and Evans sends him outside. Dynamite gets tossed into the steps and suplexed on the stage to make it even worse. Back in and a Falcon Arrow sets up a chinlock.

That’s switched into a Muta Lock but Dynamite makes the rope in a hurry. A brainbuster onto the knee has Evans down for a change, setting up a top rope clothesline for two. Evans is back up to send him outside for the tumbling flip dive, followed by a 450 back inside. Another 450 is loaded up (Evans loves his flips) but Dynamite gets the knees up and small packages him to retain at 10:33.

Rating: C+. Evans is someone who has been around for the better part of ever and you know what you’re getting with him. He’s going to run his mouth and flip a lot, but the good thing is he still knows how to do that style pretty well. The ending didn’t offer much, though at least the match had some time for a change.

Overall Rating: C. There are some talented wrestlers on here and some of the matches were pretty nice. At the same time, there were multiple parts that felt either dumb or almost incomplete, including the weird ending to the six person tag. I’ve seen far worse shows, but this felt like it needed more planning and structure, as it’s kind of all over the place otherwise.

Results
BackSeat Boyz b. Effy/Joey Janela and Jordan Oliver/Ryan O’Neil – Double spinebuster to O’Neil
Mia Friday b. Brittnie Brooks, Jazmin Allure and Ruthie Jay – Rollup to Jay
BLKOUT vs. VNDL48 went to a no contest
Matt Tremont b. Gangrel – Splash
Billy Gold/Kidd Legend/LiveDanger b. Channing Decker/Corazon/Juni Underwood/Simon Gotch – Backdrop into a powerslam to Corazon
Deklan Grant b. Angelo Metro, Angel Orsini, Don Freeze, Jazmyne Hao, JJ Doze, Mickie Knuckles and Tarzan Duran – Piledriver to Knuckles
1 Called Manders b. Thomas Shire – Lariat
Mercedes Martinez b. Lacey Lane and Priscilla Kelly – Spinebuster to Kelly

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Podermania 2026
Date: April 15, 2026
Location: Horseshoe Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: Veda Scott, Val Capone

I’ve seen this show on the Wrestlemania schedule year after year and it’s time to give it a shot. As usual I have no idea what to expect from the show but apparently it is a self-described “mostly” female wrestling company. That could mean quite the good results given the available talent so let’s get to it.

There’s an anime opening video and I have no idea if this sword fight has anything to do with the show.

Su Yung/Leva Bates vs. Joseline Navarro/Mazzerati

Yung and Bates are Team Demonslayer. Mazzerati poses at Bates to start so it’s off to Yung, who scares Mazzerati off to Navarro. Bates comes right back in and goes after Navarro’s leg so we’ll try Yung again. Some double teaming has Yung in trouble and Mazzerati gives her a spinning middle rope crossbody.

Bates comes in for the save and Yung (described as the Demon, despite being on Team DEMONSLAYER) has the big staredown with Navarro. Yung gets knocked down but Bated tagged herself in and gets kicked in the face for two. Yung’s Arachnarana (cool name) send Navarro into the corner and it’s the Panic Switch (Samoan driver) into a basement superkick to pin Mazzerati at 8:41.

Rating: C+. Good enough opener here with a nice, fast paced tag match. That’s often a smart way to start things off and while the pairings felt a bit random, it wound up working well enough. I didn’t know much about the women (I’ve seen them all before but that’s about it) but they got me into the match and I’ll call that a win.

Post match Tara Zep (another odd looking woman) runs in to beat on Mazzerati before leaving with Yung.

The ring announcer thanks various people for making the show possible.

Amira/Lil Marz vs. Jazzy Yang/Toga

Amira works on Toga’s arm to start with Toga reversing into a headlock. A running shoulder gives Toga one and Amira is back up with a dropkick. Marz comes in for a running basement elbow in the corner but it’s quickly off to Yang. Amira elbows her down and grabs a suplex, followed by a running clothesline in the corner.

Marz’s suplex gets two and a Cannonball in the corner gets two. Yang finally gets up for a crossbody though and it’s back to Toga for a heck of a forearm to Amira. Everything breaks down and Yang fires off some superkicks before going outside with Amira. That leaves Toga to hit a kind of Rock Bottom to pin Marz at 8:47.

Rating: B-. This match was similar to the opener but in this case I had no idea who anyone was and they pulled me into it again. It was a good enough showing between what felt like (again, not sure if they are) a match between two makeshift teams and that’s hard to do. I liked this well enough and Marz and Amira could be worth following going forward.

Some weapons are brought in, which can’t go well.

Nixi XS vs. Shazza McKenzie

This is a street fight. They sit down at a table…and start to play poker. Even the referee is playing (and dealing, while partially dressed like Elvis) and I’m more curious about the brand of card they have (my collection continues to grow). The fight breaks out and they go outside to find a fringe covered kendo stick. Nixi (who is apparently an evil bride) finds her own (non-fringed) kendo stick and hammers away but gets sent back inside. McKenzie finds a chair…and Blair Onyx (feuding with McKenzie) is attached to it.

The distraction lets Nixi fights back and cut McKenzie’s mouth with a card before pouring liquid into the cut. The bag of rhinestones are poured out and McKenzie is sent face first into them for a near fall. Nixi pulls out…what looks to be some powder, which McKenzie grabs and puts near her nose, triggering an energized comeback (I’m going to assume it was Hulk Hogan Python Powder and move on). Onyx gets on the apron though and the distraction lets Nixi hit McKenzie in the head with a bottle. A tornado DDT finishes McKenzie at 6:45.

Rating: B-. This was certainly a change of pace from the first two matches and, possible cocaine inspired comeback aside, I liked it well enough. I’ve seen McKenzie over the years and she always seems to put in a lot of effort. Nixi has popped up in AEW/ROH a few times but it wasn’t quite like this, which granted wouldn’t make sense when she’s out there as a jobber.

Gypsy Mac vs. Brittnie Brooks vs. Izzy Moreno

Mac grabs a rollup to start and Moreno sends her outside. Brooks takes Moreno down and drops Mac on the floor before throwing her back inside. Moreno is knocked to the floor again and it’s a running hip attack to give Brooks two. Brooks gives Mac a faceplant but gets tripped down by Moreno, who comes back inside. Mac hip checks Brooks in the corner but gets Falcon Arrowed by Moreno for two.

Moreno northern lights suplexes Mac but Brooks’ slingshot save doesn’t work, leaving Mac to kick out on her own. Mac is back up with a spear to Brooks, who manages a wheelbarrow bulldog. Moreno grabs a DDT but gets dropped by Mac. Brooks offers a distraction so Moreno can slam Mac off the top. Brooks comes back in to plant Mac for two but Moreno sends Brooks outside and steals the pin at 8:17.

Rating: C+. Brooks continues to feel like a star in the making (as she did last year) but Moreno continues to be the interesting aspect. She’s by no means ready for it yet, but can you imagine if she managed to get to WWE for a run with Bayley? It would be one of the coolest super long term stories in wrestling and dang it’s somehow a possibility.

Post match Moreno thanks the fans for helping her get better.

Kaia McKenna vs. Allie Katch

McKenna is rather tall. They fight over a test of strength to start with neither getting very far so McKenna knees her in the ribs. A suplex gives McKenna two but Katch is back with a Pele kick. Katch whips her hard into the corner for two and it’s a hip attack into the Cannonball for two. McKenna belly to back suplexes her for the same but Katch is right back with a quick piledriver for the pin out of nowhere at 8:01.

Rating: C+. Katch continues to feel like one of the more polished independent women in the industry and she was doing well here again. She seems to be more of a permanent star on the indy circuit rather than doing anything in a big company. At the same time, McKenna had an interesting look and I could go for seeing her again.

Journey Burke/Sirena Veil/Valentina Rossi vs. Dani Mo/Emily Jaye/Rachel Ley

Jaye and Rossi (who is now Gianna Capri in Evolve) start things off with Jaye slapping her in the face, setting up a running faceplant. It’s off to Ley for a handspring elbow in the corner to Burke. A neckbreaker cuts Ley off for two but she kicks Journey in the face, allowing the double tag to Mo and Veil.

Mo gets knocked down rather quickly and a Vader Bomb elbow gives Veil two as the other four are in a chase around ringside. Mo is right back up to strike away and a Code Red gets two on Burke. Everything breaks down and Burke gives Ley an Air Raid Crash. Mo’s Michinoku Driver drops Burke for two and Veil gets planted with a double chokeslam. Ley’s 450 is good for the pin at 8:24.

Rating: B-. They had a tough task with getting everyone a chance to shine with so many people involved. It wound up working out pretty well though, with the winners feeling like interesting prospects. Rossi is already more than a prospect and the other two were far from bad. Nice job here, even with a bunch of less than familiar (not a bad thing as it applies to everyone at some point) names.

Alex Gracia vs. Aleah James

They fight over a lockup to start with Gracia using the hair to pull her into the corner. James spins out of a wristlock and kicks Gracia into the corner. Gracia trips her down though and gets in some rams to the apron but the referee catches the feet on the ropes. Back in and Gracia’s belly to back suplex gets two but James breaks out of the double arm crank. James strikes away and grabs a fisherman’s suplex for two, only for Gracia to go for the eyes. A knee lift and headplant put James away at 5:05.

Rating: C. This didn’t have a ton of time to go anywhere but Gracia, who has been on some bigger shows before, was a solid hand out there. James was fine enough on her own, but there is only so much you can do in so little time. Maybe they’re running long or something, because this barely felt like it was getting started.

Poder Title: Brittany Blake vs. Shotzi Blackheart

Blackheart is challenging. They go to the mat to start with Blake getting two off a quick jackknife rollup. Back up and Blackheart gets the better of a test of strength before hitting a quick dropkick. Blake snaps off some armdrags before sending Blackheart out to the floor. They slug it out on the apron with Blake getting the better of things and hitting a suicide dive. Back in and Blackheart suplexes her into the corner for two, followed by a Boston crab.

Brooks makes the rope rather quickly and sends Blackheart into the corner for two. Blackheart tries a superplex but Blake blocks that and manages to reverse into a powerbomb. A hard knee sends Blackheart out to the floor…and now we both have kendo sticks. Blackheart gets the better of a strike off and puts her in a chair for a running knee. The top rope backsplash hits raised knees back inside though and a Texas Cloverleaf Gangsta’s Paradise finishes Blackheart at 10:55.

Rating: B-. Blackheart is a star and on a roll in the independent scene as of late and it’s good to see her getting a high profile spot on a show like this. She has a lot of matches scheduled this weekend and there is a good chance she’ll be in something pretty big over the next few days. Blake has been champion for going on two years though and certainly got to show off a bit here. Nice match and it did feel more important.

Post match Blake says…I’m not sure as the audio isn’t great.

Carolina Cruz vs. Miranda Alize

Alize’s headlock takeover starts things off but Cruz is back up with a running shoulder. After a quick dance, Cruz snaps off some armdrags but Alize pulls her down out of the corner. The double arm crank goes on for a few moments before Alize switches to hammering away in the corner. Cruz fights back with a Stunner to start the clothesline comeback, followed by a dropkick. A sliding clothesline gives Cruz two but Alize slaps on a crossface. With that broken up, Cruz grabs a jumping Downward Spiral for two but Alize is back with a Shining Wizard for the pin at 6:40.

Rating: C+. It was good while it lasted, but it just didn’t last long. That’s kind of a problem as you can only just so much into a match so short. I’ve seen both of them before and they’re both talented, but there was only so much to get out of a match that was going up against this kind of limitations.

Ladies Night Out Title: Alexandra Le Leona vs. Jazmin Allure

Allure is defending. Leona takes her down by the arm to start and they trade legsweeps for two each. That means we’re off to an early standoff until Leona rolls some suplexes. A 619 misses and Allure is right back with a neckbreaker. Leona’s reverse Sling Blade drops Allure again though and now the 619 connects. The springboard splash gives Leona two and an Angel’s Wings connects for the same. Allure hits the ropes and grabs Tatum Paxley’s Cemetery Drive to retain at 4:34.

Rating: C. Are they just really short on time or something? The previous match didn’t get much time and this match, a title match, was about a third shorter. I’m not sure what’s going on with that but they could only do much here. Allure is good at what she does and Leona is good at doing a lot of Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio stuff.

Charli Evans vs. Billie Starkz

Starkz doesn’t seem serious about a handshake to start so they clothesline each other down less than a minute in. An exchange of German suplexes are both shrugged off so Starkz brainbusters her onto the knee. Evans catches her on top and hits a Death Valley Driver for two, followed by a sliding kick to the head for the same. They slug it out with Evans raining down right hands in the corner, only for Starkz to ram her into the buckle. Evans tries a victory roll but Starkz reverses into a cradle of her own for the pin at 4:28.

Rating: C. Yeah they must be running long here as there is no reason for your main event to run about four and a half minutes with pretty much nothing going on. They started fast and just blitzed through everything, which isn’t the greatest way to go. This could have wound up being a good match, but I need a good bit more than what they had here.

Post match Evans chases Starkz to the back to end the show.

Overall Rating: C+. I love the idea of a show like this where the incredibly talented women are given the chance to showcase themselves. At the same time though, everything after Blackheart vs. Blake felt like a dark match where the wrestlers were hoping to beat the traffic. There was good action here, but they would have been better off cutting a match or two and letting some of the latter stuff breathe.

Results
Su Yung/Leva Bates b. Joseline Navarro/Mazzerati – Basement superkick to Mazzerati
Togo/Jazzy Yang b. Amira/Lil Marz – Rock Bottom to Marz
Nixi XS b. Shazza McKenzie – Tornado DDT
Izzi Moreno b. Gypsy Mac and Brittnie Brooks – Nightmare On Helm Street to Mac
Allie Katch b. Kaia McKenna – Piledriver
Dani Mo/Emily Jaye/Rachel Ley b. Journey Burke/Sirena Veil/Valentina Rossi – 450 to Veil
Alex Gracia b. Aleah James – Headplant
Brittany Blake b. Shotzi Blackheart – Arm trap Texas Cloverleaf
Miranda Alize b. Carolina Cruz – Shining Wizard
Jazmin Allure b. Alexandra Le Leona – Cemetery Drive

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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New Year’s Revenge
Date: January 23, 2026
Location: Bullpen, Austin, Texas
Commentators: Mike Wilkes, Ryan Bellfort

I’ve made my thoughts on Dustin Rhodes fairly clear over the years. While he’s absolutely a talented star, I’ve never been the biggest fan. Instead, we’ll see what he can do as a coach and promoter as this is from the Rhodes Wrestling Association. You can get some rather fun stuff out of shows like these so let’s get to it.

Note that I do not follow this promotion so I’m coming in completely blind.

Sophia Rose is ready for her #1 contenders triple threat match but Drea interrupts to say she doesn’t care who she pins to become #1 contender. Angelica Risk comes in to declare herself spicy and promises to GET RISKY and win the title from Jazmin Allure. Cue Allure to remind us that she’s the champion and argue with Risk.

Opening video.

The ring announcer welcomes us to the show and thanks the VIP fans and sponsors. Nothing wrong with that.

Tag Team Titles: 8th Day vs. Auzzy/Hitt

The 8th Day (Father Oday/Timur The Great, with Chris Marcel (I think. At times it sounds like Marcel and at times it sounds like Mordell.)) is defending after taking the titles from Auzzy and Hitt. Auzzy backs Oday into the corner to start but Oday is back with a wristlock. That’s broken up with an armdrag and it’s off to the rather big Hitt vs. the rather muscular Timur.

Hitt wins the early power off and grabs a headlock takeover but Timur manages to block a Blue Thunder Bomb. It’s back to Auzzy for a running boot to the face into Hitt’s backsplash as the pace picks up a bit. Auzzy goes up but Marcel shoves him down, allowing Timur to hit a flying shoulder to take over. Marcel gets in some cheap shots from the floor and we hit the chinlock. The champs both come in for a dropkick into a neckbreaker but Auzzy manages to slug away.

A headbutt staggers Auzzy but he manages a Pele to knock Oday down. Hitt and Timur come in off the double tag, with Hitt taking over in a hurry. A Roode Bomb plants Timur and a Blue Thunder Bomb connects as well, with the latter drawing Modell up to the apron. Oday grabs a tornado DDT and Timur adds a spear for two, with Auzzy making the save. Another Blue Thunder Bomb plants Oday but Timur muscles him up with a Jackhammer.

Auzzy’s top rope cutter hits Timur though and everyone is down. Everyone gets up and the slugout is on until Auzzy hits a Swanton, only for Marcel to pull the referee at two. Auzzy gives Marcel a big running flip dive but Oday slips out of a suplex attempt. That means an assisted Stunner can finish Auzzy to retain the titles at 13:42.

Rating: B. Well dang they started with a good match and I got into it. No they didn’t do anything that hasn’t been done better before, but that top rope cutter looked really good. They had a hot opener here, which is often where a tag match fits in well. The 8th Day felt like a solid team, though I’m not entirely sure I get what they’re supposed to be. The manager felt pretty generic too, but he did his job well enough.

Post match Hitt walks out on Auzzy.

Drea vs. Sophia Rose vs. Angelica Risk

The winner gets a Women’s Title shot later tonight. They talk a lot of trash to start and Drea rolls Rose up for an early two. A double suplex puts Drea down, leaving the other two to trade headbutts. Risk takes Rose to the apron to fire off some chops, followed by some hips to the face in a bit of a rude fashion.

Back in and Risk licks her hands before slapping Drea in the back, which sounds extra painful. Drea fights back and sends Risk outside for a baseball slide but Rose is right there with a flip dive off the apron. Risk drops Rose though and throws Drea inside for two. Rose and Risk trade the loud chops until Drea knocks both of them silly with shots to the face. Back to back basement dropkicks in the corner have Risk and Rose in more trouble, allowing Drea to put Risk on top.

That’s broken up by Rose, only for Drea to turn it into a Tower Of Doom. Rose is back up with a knockdown to Risk and a rolling Downward Spiral to Drea. Risk manages to get up though and a middle rope spinning Downward Spiral…doesn’t finish Rose despite looking rather close. A rolling cutter gives Risk two more and she goes up again, where Drea shoves her down in a crash. Drea goes up as well but dives into a Stunner from Rose for the pin at 7:37.

Rating: C+. Nice enough here as they all got a chance to shine, which is hard to do in a match that didn’t have a ton of time. Drea stood out more than the other two here, though that might have been due to the neon green gear. Rose definitely seemed to be the crowd favorite here so having her win and get to come back out later isn’t a bad idea.

Earlier today, Robert Baines (looks to be a sleazy manager) announced a new partnership with TY Shane and he has Conflict Theory (looks to be some hired thugs) ready to go. Shane didn’t approve of that and wants to win on his own, demanding that Baines won’t get involved in his match tonight against Jesse Funaki. Baines says he’s trying to play a numbers game but he’ll give Shane what he wants. They shake on it, with Shane saying he’s facing Funaki one on one to see who the better main is. Baines is sure that they’ll get the win. Hmm…

The ring announcer is ready for the next match but a student gets in the ring. Commentary says this guy brought in the pizza this afternoon and his name is….Just Jared. And apparently he’s having a match.

Chad Lennex vs. Just Jared

Lennex looks rather mean and has a woman named Tonda with him. Well in theory as his chyron says Chad Lennex but he’s introduced as Dark Chad. Commentary: “Whatever his name is.” Either way Lennex jumps him before the bell and throws him down. The match officially begins with a hard slam and a chop in the corner. A middle rope cutter plants Jared again and Lennex hits a ripcord clothesline to the back of the head. That and a Michinoku Driver finish Jared at 1:42. Total squash, which was the point.

Robert Baines (heel manager from earlier) takes over the introductions, against the regular announcer’s wishes. Baines talks about teaming up with TY Shane on a business venture who wants to take out any second or third generation stars in Texas. He is guaranteeing that Shane defeat Jesse Funaki (son of Sho Funaki) tonight and has brought in Conflict Theory to make sure that is the case (fan: “OH GOD NO!”). The team promises to win, as many evil groups have said before. Shane comes out and wants the three of them gone because he wants to do this on his own, but they stay on the floor.

TY Shane vs. Jesse Funaki

They get in each others’ face to start and the rather angry Shane is ready to go. The early exchange of forearms goes to Funaki and he strikes Shane down, followed by a nice dropkick to send Shane outside. Funaki follows but Conflict Theory distracts the referee, allowing Baines to send Funaki into the post. Shane is livid and shoves one of the members of Theory but opts to send Funaki back inside and pound away.

A neckbreaker and dropkick to the back give Shane two each and we hit the reverse chinlock. Shane shouts about how he is better than Funaki, who fights up and elbows away. Funaki knocks him outside and hits a big dive to the floor, where the villains get in some triple teaming as Shane is sent back inside. That’s too far for Shane, who goes outside and demands that they are “f****** out of here!”.

They do just that but Funaki uses the distraction to come back with a top rope spinning tornado DDT for two of his own. Shane is right back with a middle rope DDT of his own for two of his own and they both need a breather. Back up and they trade more shots to the face until Funaki hits the Deathly Hallows dropkick in the corner. Shane comes back with a brainbuster onto the knee and they’re both down again. Back up and they trade rollups for two each until Funaki’s sunset flip out of the corner gets the pin at 12:24.

Rating: B. This was actually a solid match as Shane and Funaki have definitely stood out better than the rest of the stars tonight. Shane needs a bit of a better look and Funaki could use some more experience, but I could see them both moving up the ladder eventually. Funaki definitely has some some appeal as an underdog star as he has a good look and some athleticism. Nice job here.

Post match Baines and Conflict Theory come in and lay out Funaki, though Shane isn’t sure what do to. Baines hands Shane a chair, which is too far. Shane throws it down and Baines says Shane is NOT a thinking animal. That earns Baines a chair to the head and Shane takes out Conflict Theory as well. Shane rather aggressively helps Funaki up and leaves on his own.

A team called Creative Control (one of whom has a title) is getting ready for their entrance later and insult Vin Parker’s nana. Movie (partner of Cordell) doesn’t think much of their opponents (Jimmy House and the aforementioned Parker) and it was just an illusion that Cordell hit Movie with a frog splash. Now if the stupid interviewer can get out of here, they have magic to make. These guys don’t exactly feel like top stars.

Mop Guy is here to…well you can probably guess. Cue a team called the Forged (Victor V and Bobby C) to jump him from behind. The Rhodes Brothers run in for the save. And let’s tag team it!

Rhodes Brothers vs. Forged

The brothers are Wayne and Wyatt, with Bobby easily wrestling Wyatt down and riding him to start. Wayne comes in to help with some double teaming so we’ll try Victor instead. Wayne’s headlock into a Cody Rhodes drop down uppercut has Victor in more trouble. A running flip splash into a basement clothesline gives Wayne two but Bobby trips him up from the floor. Double choking has Wayne in trouble for the first time and a wheelbarrow splash gives Bobby two. Wayne gets away without much trouble and it’s back to Wyatt for the big elbows. A bulldog puts Bobby down and Wayne’s Final Reckoning finishes at 5:12.

Rating: C. They kept this simple, as I can’t imagine the Brothers have had much experience. That’s the point of having them in a match like this one, as they can go out there with limited pressure and just get some ring time. Granted it helps when your uncle owns the promotion, but neither team looked terrible. They definitely need ring time, but it could have been far worse.

Post match Mop Guy gets to beat up Bobby for some revenge.

Earlier today, Vin Parker arrived when Jimmy House came up in his truck. They don’t seem to like each other, but House is in a good mood after his “tryout”. Apparently House has a shirt for Parker to wear in their tag match. Given that House was signed to a WWE ID deal just over a month after this show aired, I’d guess the tryout went well.

Women’s Title: Sophia Rose vs. Jazmin Allure

Allure is defending and does not seem to like the fans whatsoever. They fight over a lockup into the corner to start and Rose shoves her down. Back up and Allure grabs her by the hair for a takedown and they go into a pinfall reversal sequence. Rose is back with a flying mare and a handspring elbow connects in the corner. Allure manages to send her outside and gets in a hard posting to take over.

Back in and Allure ties her into the ropes for a hard slam down but gets annoyed at the kickout. Allure starts wrapping the previously injured leg around the ropes, followed by a basement dropkick in the corner. Rose manages to get a jawbreaker but the leg gives out on a fireman’s carry attempt.

That gives Allure the easy target of a chop block and we hit the kneebar. That doesn’t last long either as Rose manages to send her outside for a breather. Back in and a Sling Blade puts Allure down again, followed by a not so bright pump kick. Somehow Rose manages a moonsault for two but Allure is back with a dragon screw legwhip, leaving the leg in quite the nasty position. A DDT gives Allure two so she goes up, with Rose catching her with a superplex. That’s fine with Allure though, who ties up the ropes for a small package to retain at 9:57.

Rating: C+. This was another simple story with Rose’s knee not being strong enough, along with her coming in banged up from the triple threat. The fans liked Rose but Allure was fresh, with the fans hating almost everything she was doing. This wasn’t bad at all and the stuff with the knee worked fine.

Post match Allure brags about the win but walks into a Stunner.

Jimmy House/Vin Parker vs. Movie Myk/Cordell

House and Parker don’t get along but don’t like the other two at all, hence the teaming. Myk and Cordell jump them to start, with Cordell beating up House on the floor. Myk and Parker join them to keep up the beating, only for House and Parker to whip the villains into each other. We settle down to House taking over on Cordell inside before Parker comes in for a dropkick. A running clothesline puts Cordell on the floor, where House hits a heck of a double clothesline.

Back in and Myk shoves Parker off the top, allowing Cordell to take him into the wrong corner. Parker’s rollups don’t get him very far but House comes in off a blind tag and drops Myk with a clothesline. That doesn’t work for Parker, who gets in an argument with House, allowing Myk to ram them together. House is in trouble this time, with Myk raking his back and twisting the arm to cut off some chops. The arm is wrapped around the ropes for a kick and we hit the armbar.

Back up and Cordell comes in, only to get dropkicked on top. Parker is back in to clean house, including a running dropkick to send Cordell crashing to the floor. A powerslam and moonsault give Parker two on Myk, who counters a running elbow into a suplex into the corner. The double tag brings in House to punch Cordell down but Myk runs House over, leaving everyone in need of a break. Parker gets up top for a missile dropkick to send Myk into House’s German suplex for two, with Cordell making the save. House spears Parker by mistake though and Myk steals the pin at 13:20.

Rating: B-. This told a nice enough story as Parker and House both wanted to get their hands on Myk but couldn’t get out of each others’ way. I’m still not sure how main event level Myk feels, but he’s someone for the stars to chase. It’s a good enough main event and there are a few ways to go as a result, which is nice to see.

Post match House and Parker are about to go at it but get jumped, with the villains being taken out to end the show.

We get credits, which feature the wrestlers and their social media information for a unique touch.

Overall Rating: B. Well, that was a rather pleasant surprise. I came into this expecting absolutely nothing and got a very watchable and at times rather good show. Yes, it’s low level stuff with a lot of people who are just starting out or haven’t done this for very long, but nothing on here was remotely bad and it’s a lot better than some indy shows I’ve seen. Rhodes certainly has something as a trainer, as this was a rather entertaining show and far better than I was expecting.

Results
8th Day b. Auzzy/Hit – Assisted Stunner to Auzzy
Sophia Rose b. Drea and Angelica Risk – Stunner to Drea
Chad Lennex b. Just Jared – Michinoku Driver
Jesse Funaki b. TY Shane – Sunset flip
Rhodes Brothers b. Forged – Final Reckoning to Victor
Jazmin Allure b. Sophia Rose – Small package
Movie Myk/Cordell b. Jimmy House/Vin Parker – Spear to Parker

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Future Legends Women’s Tournament
Date: April 20, 2025
Location: FSW Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Commentators: CLAS, MJ Holiday

I’ve been wanting to see more from Future Stars Of Wrestling as it’s a local promotion in Las Vegas but it has mainly been hosting other events this Wrestlemania Weekend. This might not be the best way to look at the promotion but it’s as good as we’re getting here. I’m not sure what to expect here other than some women having a tournament so let’s get to it.

Apparently everyone in the tournament is 25 or under for a bit of a nice touch.

The ring announcer introduces the show but her microphone is very low and I can barely understand a word she is saying.

Future Women’s Legends Tournament First Round: Carolina Cruz vs. Alice Blair vs. Zamaya

MK Bandit is here with Zamaya. Blair sends the two of them together so Cruz stops to dance, followed by a rollup for two each. Cruz’s double bulldog is countered into a double belly to back suplex and it’s Blair basement dropkicking Zamaya for two. Back up and Zamaya stacks them up in the corner for a double running hip attack and a Samoan drop gets two on Cruz.

A clothesline gives Blair two on Zamaya with Blair having to make the save. Cruz hits a double dropkick and a double DDT before taking Bandit out on the floor. Zamaya gets dropped outside as well, leaving Cruz to grab a stretch muffler with a bodyscissors to make Blair tap at 8:20.

Rating: C. This was the Cruz show and that’s not the worst thing to see. She is a former NXT star and it makes sense to put her out there as a focal point. Blair didn’t do much here and Zamaya felt like a monster. It’s not a great match but it made Cruz feel like a bigger star than the other two, which was likely the point.

Future Women’s Legends Tournament First Round: Jazmin Allure vs. Maggie Lee

Allure has been in AEW before while Lee recently debuted in TNA. Lee isn’t having this waiting thing and knocks her off the top during the posing, which is what a villain should do. The beating continues on the floor and they go inside, where Lee gets two at the opening bell. Allure sends her flying for a crash into the corner and a basement dropkick gets two. Lee gets in a cheap shot though and chokes on the ropes before choking on the ropes some more.

The surfboard keeps Allure in trouble and Lee has the evil grin going strong. That’s broken up and Allure hits a quick faceplant for two so she goes up top. A Samoan driver pulls Allure down for two as commentary is already complaining about the speed of the count. Allure is back up with a knockdown into a nice frog splash for two and it’s time to strike it out. Lee staggers her into a kneeling tombstone for the pin at 6:32.

Rating: C+. It isn’t hard to see why these two are getting attention from other promotions as they have the talent to get noticed. Lee has enough of a look to her and was good enough in the ring to back it up. On the other hand, you have Allure, who seemed to be a fairly well rounded star, or at least as well rounded as you can show yourself being in a relatively short match.

Future Women’s Legends Tournament First Round: Jada Stone vs. Maya World

In something you don’t often see, half of the commentary team leaves because they have a flight to catch to get back home after Wrestlemania Weekend. Someone else jumps in to take his place as they trade wrist control and headlocks to get things going. Stone ducks a clothesline but World flips out of a headscissors. They go to the mat for an exchange of near falls, with World hitting a northern lights suplex for two.

Stone misses a charge into the corner but comes back with a kick to the head for two. A running dropkick in the corner gives Stone two but World fights up and strikes away for a breather. Stone comes back with a cutter though and they’re both down. Back up and World misses a split legged moonsault, with Stone missing a Spiral Tap to keep things even. World hits a missile dropkick into a sitout powerbomb for two and they’re both down again. They forearm it out until Stone sends her throat first into the ropes. A handspring Stunner finishes World at 9:01.

Rating: B-. These two got a bit more time and that isn’t a bit surprise either. Stone has done well in the matches where I’ve seen her show up, with World doing well enough at the same time. This was treated as a bigger match than the others so far and it isn’t a surprise to see her moving on to the title match.

Future Women’s Legends Tournament First Round: Brittnie Brooks vs. Kiah Dream

Dream takes her down with a headlock to start but Brooks reverses into an armbar. Back up and an armdrag sends Dream into the corner and a big boot sends her outside. Rather than follow her out though, Brooks lets Dream get back inside for a Russian legsweep. The chinlock goes on for a bit before Brooks fights up, only to be pulled into a full nelson with the legs. Brooks fights up again and hits a running hip attack in the corner for two but the Dream Catcher (jumping cutter) puts Brooks down for two. Back up and Brooks hits a quick Nightmare On Helms Street for the pin at 8:02.

Rating: C+. Brooks is someone else who has been featured quite a bit this weekend and that makes a good deal of sense. She has a good look to her and feels like a star no matter what she is doing. Dream didn’t get to do as much here, but Brooks feels like someone that will be getting a chance as an underdog fighting from beneath.

Futures Title: Marcus Mathers vs. Bryce Saturn vs. Bodhi Young Prodigy vs. Matt Vandagriff

Vandagriff is defending and this is a non-tournament men’s match. Saturn gets triple teamed to start, which is enough for him to get knocked to the floor. The remaining three trade armdrags and then try stereo dropkicks for a standoff. Vandagriff snaps off a double hurricanrana to send them to the floor but Saturn breaks up the dive. Saturn won’t dive of course but here is Bodhi with a high crossbody to put him down.

Mathers comes back in so Saturn can take him down, followed by a neckbreaker/DDT/big boot combination (that wasn’t bad). A suplex gets two on Bodhi but Mathers is back up for the comeback. Mathers hits a middle rope Stunner for two on Saturn, only for Vandagriff to come in with a top rope forearm.

Bodhi makes the save this time, followed by a top rope cutter on Saturn. Vandagriff pulls Bodhi out of the air for a buckle bomb, followed by Saturn’s powerbomb for two. All four get back in and Bodhi tornado DDTs Vandagriff, kicking the other two to the floor at the same time. A big flip dive takes out Saturn and Mathers, followed by a 450 to Vandagriff for the pin and the title at 10:05.

Rating: B-. This was your usual four way match with everyone flying around and doing their stuff as fast as they could. Bodhi is someone who has been making some appearances throughout the weekend and given that his name is “Young Prodigy”, it would seem that there is something to him. Saturn was a decent heel and the fans seemed to be against him, so he is doing something well enough.

Future Women’s Legends Title: Brittnie Brooks vs. Jada Stone vs. Maggie Lee vs. Carolina Cruz

Elimination rules for the vacant title. Cruz and Brooks are knocked to the floor to start with Stone and Lee following to keep up the beatings. All four are back inside and, after a handshake, Cruz grabs a handshake on Brooks. Stone pulls Brooks outside and hammers away, leaving Lee to roll Cruz up for the elimination at 2:50.

Back in and Brooks gets double teamed by Stone and Lee. A double suplex is broken up though and everyone is down for a breather. Lee goes after Stone and gets kicked in the face, setting up the handspring Stunner (which doesn’t really work as Stone springboards but then stops for the Stunner) to get rid of Lee at 5:55. Stone hits a basement dropkick to the back for two and she stomps away for two more. A kick to the head in the corner gives Stone two more but Brooks fights back. Some shots to the face set up the Nightmare On Helm Street to give Brooks the title at 8:29.

Rating: C+. There isn’t much to be said here as this was about making Brooks look like a star, which went well enough. Cruz was barely a factor, Lee felt like someone I could go for more of (and I can get that in TNA) and Stone appears to be a star who has already started to move beyond shows at this level. That’s quite the collection of talent and it made for a decent main event.

Brooks gets her belt and we’re out fast.

Overall Rating: B-. There wasn’t much to see here, but they were in and out with the whole show in less than an hour and a half. That’s quite the speed for any show and they had a full tournament (maybe not your traditional one but it worked) with a bonus match. I’ll take that over a bunch of nothing singles matches so points for making this work. Not exactly a must see show, but it’s nice if you have less time to watch something this weekend.

Results
Carolina Cruz b. Alice Blair and Zamaya – Stretch muffler with bodyscissors to Blair
Maggie Lee b. Jazmin Allure – Kneeling tombstone
Jada Stone b. Maya World – Handspring Stunner
Brittnie Brooks b. Kiah Dream – Nightmare On Helm Street
Bodhi Young Prodigy b. Matt Vandagriff, Bryce Saturn and Marcus Mathers – 450 to Vandagriff
Brittnie Brooks b. Jada Stone, Maggie Lee and Carolina Cruz last eliminating Stone

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Can’t Deny It
Date: April 4, 2024
Location: Penns Landing Caterers
Commentators: Jack Farmer, Rich Bocchini

This is from Defy Wrestling and that’s not a promotion I know very well. I’ve seen a bit from them before and I do remember liking them so there might be something worth seeing here. The main event will see Kenta defend the World Title against Gringo Loco, which should at least be good. Let’s get to it.

Schaff is in a four wheeler (or whatever you call a vehicle for driving through the woods in the mud) and wants everyone in the BMF battle royal for his Pacific Northwest Title.

Tag Team Titles: Bollywood Boyz vs. Man Like DeReiss/Michael Oku

DeReiss and Oku are challenging and have Amira with them. Oku is apparently a replacement for Leon Slater who isn’t here due to travel restrictions. DeReiss raps his way to the ring and seems to be rather popular. Gurv and DeReiss start things off with the latter powering him up against the ropes. Some running shoulders put Gurv down and we hear the Birmingham, England (DeReiss’ hometown) area code or whatever he keeps shouting.

Oku comes in and gets armdragged into an arm crank as it’s back to Gurv for more arm pulling. That’s broken up as Oku sends him into the corner, where he jumps over DeReiss for a kick to the chest. They head outside where Gurv hammers away on Oku, setting up a middle rope bulldog for two back inside. Oku fights out of the chinlock rather quickly so it’s a top rope elbow Hart Attack for two instead.

A quick shot to the face lets Oku go up for a frog splash high crossbody and it’s back to DeReiss to pick the pace way up. Everything breaks down and Oku hits a big running flip dive, followed by DeReiss’ powerbomb for two. Stereo half crabs (Oku’s signature) have the champs in trouble but they reverse into stereo Sharpshooters. That’s broken up as well so it’s a 3D to send Harv into Gurv for two. Harv shrugs it off and sense Oku outside, setting up the Bollywood Blast for the pin on DeReiss to retain at 16:36.

Rating: C+. Nice enough match to open the show here, though it really did start to break down near the end. There is only so much drama to be had out of a thrown together team challenging for the titles but it was about all that could be done. The Boyz aren’t the flashiest team in the world but they can do their thing more than well enough.

CCK vs. Moonlight Express

That would be Chris Brookes/Kid Lykos (with Kid Lykos II) vs. Mao/Mike Bailey, because Mike Bailey is everywhere over Wrestlemania Weekend. Mao flips the rather tall Brookes off to start so Brookes teases leaving. Not that it matters as he comes back so Mao can start with Lykos. Mao takes him down and flips him off so it’s off to Bailey, who can’t get into a test of strength with Brookes (as Bailey barely comes up to his shoulders).

Brookes pats him on the head so Bailey starts kicking away in a much smarter move. That lets Bailey pat him on the head for a nice touch and it’s Lykos coming in for a change. A poke to the eye just makes Bailey kick him even more and there’s a double dropkick to send Brookes outside. Stereo moonsaults (from the same corner) take out CCK on the floor and we head back inside.

This time Mao is sent crashing outside, allowing Lykos to hit a top rope Codebreaker on Bailey. We pause for some exchange of fluids from CCK to Bailey (who does have a funny face in reaction) before Lykos shouts BRAINBUSTER. Bailey blocks it so Lykos does the same thing again and, again, is blocked. Serves him right for telegraphing his offense. Mao comes in and sends CCK into each other but CCK is right back with stereo octopus holds.

Those are broken up so Brookes and Mao trade strikes to the face for a double down. Bailey is back in to strike Lykos down, setting up a running shooting star press for two. Brookes misses a kick to the head so Bailey moonsaults onto Lykos on the floor. Back in and the Express miss stereo Ultimate Weapons but Lykos calls for the brainbuster AGAIN and AGAIN it’s broken up.

Bailey’s tornado kick (which he didn’t advertise) hits Lykos and a rollup gets two. Brookes is back in with a kick but Map kicks him right back down. Lykos is back in with the unadvertised brainbuster for two on Bailey so Brookes adds a top rope double knee for two of his own. Mao is taken out again so it’s a Gory Bomb/Diamond Dust combination to finish Bailey at 16:13.

Rating: B. They got rolling near the end there and it was just one big move after another. Bailey is kind of perfect if you want a bunch of cool looking stuff with pretty much no selling in between so he fit in well here. Brookes stands out alone because of his size but he can move well out there to balance it out. Good stuff here, as they just did a bunch of stuff to show off.

Respect is shown post match.

Women’s Title: Vert Vixen vs. Jazmin Allure vs. Trish Adora

Vixen is defending and Mega Ran is a guest commentator. The champ is sent outside to start, leaving Adora to lift Allure up and bent her over the knee in a rather wacky looking hold (the wave to her mom makes it even better). Back in and Vixen makes the save, including a running elbow to drop Adora.

They go outside with Allure hitting a big dive, setting up the chinlock back inside. Adora comes back in but gets her leg kicked out, allowing Allure to hit a Sling Blade. Allure kicks at both of them but Adora pulls a high crossbody out of the air. Vixen’s missile dropkick puts the other two down, followed by a nasty German suplex to plant Allure.

A Blue Thunder Bomb gets two but Adora is up for the save. Allure drops Adora again and runs the corner for an armdrag to Vixen. That means it’s time for Adora and Vixen to trade kicks to the face until Adora is knocked outside. Allure’s guillotine is broken up and Vixen plants her with a powerbomb, followed by a brainbuster to retain at 12:52.

Rating: C+. This was the definition of a match that just kind of happened as they were getting in as much stuff as they could in their limited amount of time. There wasn’t much in the way of a story and while Allure stood out, the other two did well enough. Good enough for what it was, but they needed a better layout.

Pacific Northwest Title: BMF Battle Royal

This is an eight man battle royal, which appears to be either a Royal Rumble or gauntlet match, with Schaff defending. Luke Jacobs is in at #1 and Galeno del Mal is in at #2 with Mal hitting a hard shoulder to take over. Charles Crowley is in at #3 (as this is apparently a Royal Rumble with 57 second intervals) and dances around ringside as Jacobs takes over. The other two pause as the dancing gets inside, followed by Crowley slams Jacobs.

LJ Cleary is in at #4 and fires off some strikes, setting up a springboard armdrag on Mal. Shota is in at #5 as the ring is filling up quickly. Shota runs into and gets kicked down by the much bigger Mal and it’s Gene Munny in at #6. A slingshot spear hits Crowley and house is quickly cleaned by the less than serious Munny.

Ricky Knight Jr. is in at #7 and easily fireman’s carries Cleary and Munny at the same time for a double Samoan drop. Schaff is in at #8 to complete the field and house is quickly cleaned. In this case, cleaning doesn’t mean eliminating though as everyone pairs off. Munny gets clotheslined out, leaving Cleary and Crowley to fight out to the apron. Both tease getting back in but Munny pulls them out, leaving us with five.

Schaff cuts off Shota’s tornado DDT attempt and throws him out. Knight is eliminated as well, leaving us with Schaff, Jacobs and Mal. Jacobs catches Schaff up top and grabs a superplex (instead of knocking him to the floor), followed by a pop up powerbomb to Mal. That doesn’t go well though as Mal tosses Jacobs and we’re down to two. Schaff low bridges Mal over the top but he barely hangs on, giving us a Shawn Michaels reference. They slug it out on the apron until Schaff grabs a Death Valley Driver to retain at 15:00.

Rating: C+. This was another match where it felt like they were trying to get in as many people as possible. That isn’t the worst idea on a show like this, but it doesn’t exactly let anyone but the winner show off. Thankfully they didn’t spend too much time with the ring full, but it was more or less “everyone comes in and then Schaff beats the up”, which isn’t much of a match.

Sovereign vs. Dragon Gate vs. C4XKC

That would be:

Sovereign: Evan Rivers/Judas Icarus/Travis Williams
Dragon Gate: Ho Ho Lun/Kzy/Shun Skywalker
C4XKC: Cody Chhun/Guillermo Rosas/KC Navarro

Skywalker headscissors Chhun to start as Mega Ran talks about work he has done on entrance music and completely ignores the match. Navarro comes in to yell at Kzy but neither of them can actually make much contact. Icarus sneaks in for a hard clothesline on Kzy as Sovereign comes in to stomp away. Kzy gets pulled back into the corner but it’s Rosas coming in to clean house.

Everything breaks down and it’s time to start the rapid fire dives. Rivers sends Rosas into the corner and it’s Williams cranking on the arms over the ropes. Rosas is back up with a heck of a clothesline and the tag brings Chhun back in to pick up the pace. A DDT gets two on Williams and everything breaks down again.

Skywalker’s standing moonsault knees hit Chhun for two but Williams is back in with a moonsault for two of his own. We hit the parade of people knocking each other to the floor until C4XKC take over on Williams. Stereo rolling kicks to the head give C4XKC a triple pin on Williams at 12:40.

Rating: B-. As you might have expected, there is only so much you can get out of a match involving nine people in a single ring. While the teams probably have their own backstories and histories, we only got so much of those things here as commentary wasn’t exactly telling us much. The action was good and they did what you would have expected, but it would have been nice to know more about what I was watching.

The #1 Defy Match Of The Year is Judas Icarus vs. Mike Bailey. One might think they would give the date of the match but oh well.

Defy World Title: Kenta vs. Gringo Loco

Kenta is defending. They circle each other for about a minute until Kenta grabs a wristlock. Loco flips away and they stare it down again as this isn’t in the fastest gear to start. Kenta snaps off a headscissors and they head outside with Kenta taking him down again. The fight heads into the crowd with Kenta hammering away even more. Back in and some knees to the head let Kenta gloat a bit more.

An offer of a handshake just lets Kenta poke him in the eyes but Loco plants him down for a change. Loco works on the arm for a bit before going big with a double springboard moonsault for two. Some chops against the ropes just seem to wake Kenta up so he comes back with a release fisherman’s suplex. A tornado DDT gives Kenta two and he grabs the STF.

With that broken via the ropes, Kenta goes up but dives into a spinning sitout powerbomb for two. They head to the apron and slug it out where another powerbomb is countered into a DDT to plant Loco hard. The count is barely beaten so Kenta drops a top rope double stomp for two. Loco grabs something like a powerslam spun into an F5 for the same and they head up top.

Kenta tries a super Falcon Arrow but gets reversed into…uh well a super Falcon Arrow actually. The referee gets bumped and Kenta grabs a DDT, plus a chair for a bonus. A bunch of shots have Loco down but he counters a belt shot into an over the shoulder Tombstone. There’s no referee so Loco goes up, only to get kneed down for two. The Go To Sleep retains the title at 23:07.

Rating: B-. Lame ending to a pretty good match, as the chairs and ref bump felt like they needed a way to add drama. I’m not sure how regular Loco is in Defy but he felt like someone who was just there for the sake of having a challenger with a name. They were getting going near the end and then they did the stuff with the chair to bring it right back down. I was expecting more from this and it wound up being just strong enough for a main event.

Respect is shown to end the match. How nice of Loco to shrug off the rampant chair shots.

Overall Rating: B-. I remember having a great time with the first Defy show that I watched and this didn’t really come close to that. The biggest problem here was nothing about the show stood out. Save for maybe the battle royal, there was nothing on here that you couldn’t see on any decent independent show. This is the kind of show that I’m going to forget by the end of the day and that’s not something you want to say about any show, let alone something on the biggest wrestling weekend of the year.

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Final Battle 2023
Date: December 15, 2023
Location: Curtis Culwell Center, Garland, Texas
Commentators: Caprice Coleman, Ian Riccaboni

It’s the biggest Ring Of Honor show of the year and that could mean all kinds of things. The main event is again about the Women’s Title, as Athena, in her hometown, defends against Billie Starkz. Other than that, we’ll be getting a new TV Champion in a six way match with five wrestlers announced. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: Taya Valkyrie vs. Jazmin Allure

Bonus match and Johnny TV is with Valkyrie. A hard shot to the face puts Allure down to start and it’s time to choke on the ropes. Allure’s right hand doesn’t get her very far as Valkyrie hits the sliding German suplex. The running knees in the corner hit Allure for two and we hit the chinlock. Allure fights up and slugs away but gets caught up top, meaning it’s a top rope superplex. The curb stomp finishes Allure at 4:26.

Rating: C. So this week on Ring Of Honor, Valkyrie won a match over a bigger name but on the pay per view Kickoff Show, she beats someone who has only popped up here and there. Not much to see with this one but having Valkyrie around is a good thing. She’s a talented veteran and that adds a lot to the division. I’m not sure why this needed to be on the show, but at least Valkyrie was pretty dominant.

Zero Hour: Von Erichs vs. Outrunners

The Von Erichs in Dallas and you don’t advertise it better than this? Ross (which I know because commentary is smart enough to say which Von Erich is which since they aren’t known in Ring Of Honor) takes Magnum down to start and hits a dropkick, followed by a standing hurricanrana for two. Marshall comes in and clears the Outrunners out, meaning it’s time for a meeting on the floor.

Back in and Ross scares the Outrunners back to the floor where they hit…something on Ross that the camera misses. The beating is on back inside but Floyd has to cut off a hot tag. Ross kicks his way to freedom anyway though and it’s Marshall coming in to clean house. Monkey flips have the Outrunners flying and stereo Claws make the Outrunners tap at 6:11.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t very good but this was as much of a layup as you could get. You have the most famous family in the history of Dallas wrestling in a match close enough to Dallas and they won with their family’s signature move. This couldn’t have been an easier idea and they went exactly as they should have with it. Aside from the Outrunners losing of course, because that should never happen.

Zero Hour: Survival Of The Fittest Qualifying Match: Bryan Keith vs. Jack Cartwheel

Keith grabs a headlock to start and grinds away until Cartwheel reverses into one of his own. Cartwheel cartwheels away but a headscissors is broken up so Keith can kick him down for two. An enziguri staggers Keith, who boots Cartwheel in the face for his efforts. Back up and a cartwheel into a dragon screw legwhip drops Keith and a slingshot spinning elbow gets two.

A cartwheel into a powerslam plants Keith and a cartwheel Death Valley Driver is good for another near fall. With Keith on the floor, Cartwheel hits the big rolling flip dive but misses a shooting star press back inside. Keith avoids a shooting star press though and hits a Tiger Driver 97 for the pin at 7:04.

Rating: C+. Having something on the line here helped a lot as that hasn’t been the case with the other two so far. I’m not sure why Johnny TV didn’t get this spot as he’s been feuding with Dalton Castle and is named TV but I guess we needed some Texas flavor to it instead. Keith has done well in the appearances I’ve seen from him over the years while Cartwheel is incredibly athletic, even if it seems like he’s just adding stuff to moves that would already be good on their own.

Tony Khan comes out to talk about his history around here and Jay Briscoe’s legacy at this event. For now though, we have one more bonus match.

Zero Hour: Daniel Garcia vs. Blake Christian

Feeling out process to start and they take turns driving each other into the corner for some dancing. They strike it out a bit until a butterfly suplex gives Garcia two. One heck of a chop puts Christian down again and the fans want it one more time. Christian motions for Garcia to bring it and then hits a basement dropkick.

Something like stereo kicks to the back keep Garcia down but he fights out of a rear naked choke. Garcia gets knocked into the corner and kicked in the face but he’s fine enough to suplex Christian into the corner. A backbreaker gets Christian out of trouble so he does it again and hits Garcia in the back of the neck.

They trade kicks to the face until Christian hits a running Spanish Fly for two more. Garcia is right back with a leglock into an ankle lock but Christian sends him outside for a big flip dive. A springboard 450 gives Christian two but Garcia pulls him into the Dragon Tamer for the tap at 12:15.

Rating: B-. Good stuff here, which might be due to the amount of time they received. It made the match feel a bit more important, but at the same time, there is only so much that you can get out of this kind of a match. There was no story and it was added with no notice, meaning it was only going to be so interesting, especially with a newcomer like Christian.

Tony Khan has another announcement but Ring Of Honor World Champion comes in to say he wants to be on the card. Anthony Henry comes in to say he’ll fight so the Proving Ground match is on. That’s how the World Champion is booked for the biggest show of the year, less than two minutes before the show starts.

And now, the show proper.

AAA Mega Title: El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Black Taurus

Taurus is challenging and isn’t interested in the Code Of Honor. The much smaller Vikingo is sent flying to start and Taurus knocks him out of the air. Back up and Taurus misses a running knee in the corner but the big running flip dive is countered into a powerbomb. They head back inside where Taurus hits a ripcord powerslam for two as the pace slows down again.

A clothesline puts Vikingo over the top, with his head bouncing off the apron on the way down. Taurus follows with the rather large flip dive and a reverse Sling Blade back inside. One heck of a pop up Samoan drop plants Vikingo but he avoids a big dive. Vikingo gets two fight back with a big flip to send Taurus outside.

Vikingo loads up two springboard flip dives but has to bail out and hits a standard dive, with Taurus standing there waiting the entire time (my goodness people just don’t do the dive if it takes that long). Back in and Taurus runs him over and they go upside, with Vikingo snapping off a super hurricanrana. They strike it out on the apron until Vikingo hits a not great looking running sunset bomb. Vikingo springboard dropkicks him into the corner but misses a charge into the corner.

A top rope gorilla press plants Vikingo (geez) but Vikingo kicks him in the face a few times. Vikingo hits a moonsault Samoan driver (because someone can do that) but Taurus spears him down for a double knockdown. Taurus is sent outside for a 720 (yes a 720), which thankfully doesn’t land on his head. Back in and one heck of a backbreaker plants Vikingo but he’s able to knock Taurus into the corner. The running knees and the 630 retain the title at 16:30.

Rating: B. Yes they botched quite a bit and it went a bit long, but my goodness I wanted to see Vikingo beat the monster put in front of him. This was a heck of an opener and Vikingo, despite being rather small, can get a crowd behind him like few others. This was about the entertainment value rather than the quality (which wasn’t exactly terrible) and I had a heck of a time with it. Just don’t stand there waiting on a dive like that again. Ever. That was terrible.

Commentary runs down the card.

Six Man Tag Team Titles: Mogul Embassy vs. TMDK

TMDK (Shane Haste/Bad Dude Tito/Kosei Fujita) is challenging. Kaun and Fujita start things off with Kaun taking over and dropping him with a kick to the chest. Fujita is back up with a spinning kick to the face, allowing the tag off to Tito to take over on Kaun. It’s back to Fujita, who gets taken into the corner for the tag to Cage.

One heck of a powerslam plants Fujita for two and his right hands don’t do much good. Fujita does manage to punch his way out of trouble and everything breaks down. Haste kicks Toa into the corner and Haste nails a running kick to the face for two. The Gates aren’t having any of this and run Fujita over but Tito makes the save. Haste knees his way out of trouble but Toa cuts him in half with a spear for two.

Tito counters Cage’s discus lariat into a Death Valley Driver for two and Fujita springboard dropkicks Kaun for the same. Cage grabs the apron superplex to plant Fujita for two more with Tito making the save this time. Open The Gates hits Haste, leaving Fujita all alone against the champs. Running shots in the corner set up a toss sitout powerbomb to give Cage the retaining pin at 12:01.

Rating: B-. Nice match here as everything went nuts in a smart move. At the same time, and much like earlier, there is only so much you can get out of the champs defending against a team that got their build in a tournament in Japan which was only mentioned before the match. It wasn’t a bad match, but this really could have been dropped from the card without much being lost.

We recap Tony Nese vs. Ethan Page in an I Quit match. Page was on a winning streak but Nese and his friends cut it off and then got on Page’s nerves. Now it’s time for an I Quit match, which is quite the escalation after one match. Also of note, commentary calls them former friends, which certainly hasn’t been a major part of the story.

Tony Nese vs. Ethan Page

I Quit match and Mark Sterling is here with Nese but is handcuffed to the ring. Well he is eventually that is, complete with Mark Henry coming out to make sure it happens. Nese jumps Page from behind to start fast and hammers away, only to get elbowed in the face to cut him off. They head outside where a Sterling distraction lets Nese get in another cheap shot to take over again. Hold on though as Sterling grabs some protein powder, which is thrown into Nese’s eyes by mistake.

They fight outside again, where Page is sent face first into the handcuffs for a fairly creative spot. Nese grabs the mic and tells Page to quit on behalf of the people. That’s not happening so Nese stomps away at the bloody Page, who fights back again. That means Nese is knocked over the barricade but comes back with a weight (as in the kind you put on a bench press).

The big shot misses but Nese sends him into the barricade to take over. Back in and Nese grabs a jump rope for some whipping, only to have Page fight back without much trouble. Nese teases quitting but uses the distraction to hit page with the microphone. That sets up the big flip dive to the floor, meaning some tables can be set up. Page gets in a shot to break things up and heads to the top, where he is knocked back down.

Not that it matters as Page grabs the slingshot cutter to send Nese through the tables. Back in and some chairs are set up with Nese hurricanranaing Page….completely over the chairs. Thankfully commentary acknowledges that it didn’t make contact and Page doesn’t quit. Nese goes to grab the keys to the handcuffs and, after taking out the referee, unlocks Sterling.

The stomping is on and then it’s time to handcuff Page so Nese can smash him with the weight, with Sterling promising to show the tape to Page’s daughter. Well that’s the plan at least as Sterling explains the idea without actually doing anything, allowing Scorpio Sky to come in for the save. Page is able to stomp Nese’s fingers underneath the plate and then DDT him into it.

Sterling gets hit in the face with the plate (probably should have killed him) and the Ego’s Edge drops him again. Sky takes Sterling to the back but Nese is back up with a chair to the head, meaning Page can indeed be handcuffed. Nese gives him one last chance to quit but Page shouts “F*** YOU” and makes the no hands comeback. The referee uncuffs Page, who hits Nese with the chair and chokes him with the handcuffs for the win at 20:01.

Rating: C+. I have no idea what to think of this, but the thing that stands out the most is how overbooked this was. It felt like they weren’t sure if they wanted to have the violent, bloody brawl or some kind of goofy match with all of the exercise equipment. While I wouldn’t call it bad, they could have cut out a lot of this and had a tighter match. It never felt like the biggest match ever as Nese has never been more than a midcard star at best, but at least Page gets a signature win over someone other than a jobber.

Nyla Rose vs. Vertvixen

Another bonus match. Rose starts fast and loads up the Beast Bomb in less than a minute but Vertvixen punches her way to freedom. Another hard shot drops Vertvixen but Rose pulls her up at two. The top rope knee to the back and the Beast Bomb finish for Rose at 2:39. Well that happened.

We recap the TV Title match, which is the result of Samoa Joe vacating the title. Therefore Survival Of The Fittest was brought back with the winner being the new champion.

TV Title: Survival Of The Fittest Finals

Dalton Castle, Lee Moriarty, Kyle Fletcher, Lee Johnson, Bryan Keith, Komander

Elimination rules but only two are in the ring at once. Castle and Moriarty start things off with a handshake before going to the mat. Fletcher comes in and gets beaten up without much effort, meaning it’s off to Johnson vs. Moriarty. It’s Johnson cleaning house and sending Castle outside but getting headscissored by Komander. Keith comes in and cuts off Komander, meaning it’s time for a showdown with Castle. That’s broken up by Fletcher, who tells Castle to bring it.

The fans are way behind Castle as he throws Fletcher outside, much to the fans’ delight. Komander and Fletcher both go up and stare at each other until Komander walks the ropes to dive onto everyone else. Back in and Johnson takes over on Keith but Moriarty slips out of a powerbomb attempt. Moriarty pulls Johnson into the Border City Stretch for the tap and the elimination at 8:47.

The Boys warm Castle up so he can take Moriarty down, followed by a suplex. Cue Johnny TV to drop…someone the camera misses on the floor. Apparently he dropped the Boys, which distracts Castle enough for Moriarty to hit a suplex Downward Spiral for the elimination at 11:17.

The fans are NOT happy, even as Moriarty, Keith and Fletcher slug it out. Komander is back in as a mini tag match breaks out, resulting in the Tower Of Doom leaving all four down. Keith is up with a fireman’s carry backbreaker for one on Moriarty, followed by a tiger driver to get rid of Moriarty for the pin at 15:39. That leaves Fletcher, Keith and Komander, with Keith kneeing Fletcher down. The tiger driver is blocked though and Fletcher Tombstones Keith for the pin at 16:54.

Fletcher and Komander slug it out with Fletcher getting rocked up against the ropes. The spinning Tombstone is broken up and Komander kicks the leg out, setting up a poisonrana. A slingshot hurricanrana to the floor is countered as well and Fletcher hits the jumping Tombstone on the apron to leave them both on the floor. Komander barely beats the count and it’s a brainbuster to give Fletcher two.

Fletcher puts him on top but Komander kicks the leg out and hits a springboard Canadian Destroyer for a rather near fall. A rope walk 450 onto the apron sets up a regular 450 for two and they’re both down. Komander goes up again but gets caught, setting up a brainbuster onto the turnbuckle for another near fall. Another jumping Tombstone gives Fletcher the pin and the title at 26:03.

Rating: B. The big positive here was they got the Survival part right. Fletcher felt like he survived against the others and that was a heck of a finishing sequence. That being said, it was another long match on a show that is going to go late into the night and it features another heel champion. Ring Of Honor needs to give us something more to cheer about and that is rarely the case when it comes to titles. Very energetic match, but dang some of those kickouts were a bit ridiculous.

Pure Rules Title: Wheeler Yuta vs. Tom Lawlor

Lawlor is challenging in his ROH debut. They go to the mat to start with Lawlor getting the better of things and leaving Yuta a bit shaken. Lawlor’s armbreaker has Yuta going to the ropes for his first break and Lawlor seems pleased. Yuta gets in a right hand behind the referee’s back so Lawlor punches him back, earning his official warning.

Yuta takes over again and goes for the leg, sending Lawlor over to the ropes for his first break. They strike it out, with Lawlor favoring his leg, including as they trade discus forearms. Lawlor is back with a spear but Yuta goes straight back to the knee to take over again. An Octopus Hold into an abdominal stretch into a rollup gives Yuta two but Lawler suplex slams him down for the same.

A monkey flip breaks up another leglock attempt and Lawlor starts in on the arm, including a hammerlock piledriver for another near fall. Something like an Anaconda Vice sends Yuta to the ropes for another break, followed by a right hand to drop Lawlor again. They go up top with Lawlor grabbing a Kimura, which he holds while superplexing Yuta back down.

Another Kimura has Yuta using his final rope break so Lawlor goes with Becky Lynch’s Disarm-Her. Yuta reverses that into an ankle lock, which is reversed into another Kimura. That’s escaped as well and Yuta grabs the seatbelt for the…..pin at 13:12, despite Lawlor’s shoulder being a good foot off the mat and his feet being in the ropes.

Rating: B-. This was a technical battle between two rather skilled technical wrestlers and it worked well, aside from the terribly screwed up ending. The Pure Rules thing can work very well and it was good enough here, but this was another match with no backstory and an outsider getting a random title match. Hook is already feuding with Yuta, but here is Lawlor instead. That can get old fast and I wasn’t a fan of it here.

Post match Yuta stays on Lawlor but Hook makes the save. Yuta low blows Hook before leaving.

We recap Shane Taylor vs. Keith Lee. They were a monster team back in the original ROH but Lee went on to WWE and left Taylor to start over. Now Taylor wants revenge. That’s an actual story and I could have gone for it getting some more development than it received.

Shane Taylor vs. Keith Lee

They stare each other down to start before going to the test of strength. Taylor’s headlock has Lee in some trouble but he breaks out so they can run the ropes. One heck of a shoulder drops Taylor and he’s more than a bit stunned. Lee chops away and hits a slingshot crossbody for one.

Taylor is back with a Tower Of London for two and the apron legdrop crushes Lee again. We hit the chinlock back inside, followed by a knee to the face to give Taylor two. Back up and the forearm exchange goes to Lee, who hits a splash in the corner. Taylor knocks him back down and hits a middle rope splash for two more.

Lee knocks him down again and goes to the corner, only to have Lee Moriarty pop up for a distraction. The sitout powerbomb drops Moriarty but Taylor gets in a knee to the back of the head for two. Taylor goes up top and hits a super Canadian Destroyer….for two more. Back up and Keith grabs the Big Bang Catastrophe for the pin out of nowhere at 14:33.

Rating: B-. It was a good hoss fight with some big heavy shots, but again it ran longer than it needed to. There were too many times where they were slowing way down and it would have been better with a few minutes less. I’m not sure how much sense it makes for Keith to win here, but it won’t matter if he doesn’t get a stronger push than he has had in recent months.

Post match Keith pulls Taylor up and Taylor acknowledges the crowd.

Bryan Keith wants gold so Orange Cassidy comes in to say come collect the International Title on Collision.

We recap the Blackpool Combat Club vs. Mark Briscoe/FTR, which is a big tribute to Jay Briscoe and little more.

Blackpool Combat Club vs. Mark Briscoe/FTR

After Dax Harwood goes over to glare at a fan on her phone, we start with Harwood vs. Moxley with neither getting very far. Castagnoli comes in to drive Harwood into the corner before it’s off to Danielson to strike it out with Wheeler. Briscoe gets to come in to a rather strong reaction and hammers away in the corner. It’s back to Harwood, who gets caught by the arm (now bleeding) with Danielson cranking away.

Castagnoli’s Swing has Harwood in more trouble but he German suplexes his way out of trouble. Wheeler gets the tag to clean house, including Redneck Boogie for two on Danielson. Back up and Danielson loads up the Swan Dive but gets caught with the PowerPlex into the Froggy Bow. The Doomsday Device is broken up so Danielson loads up a superplex on Briscoe. That’s broken up as well but Briscoe’s second Doomsday Device attempt lands on Castagnoli’s uppercut.

Moxley is back in with a cutter but Wheeler brainbusters him down. The Shatter Machine is broken up and it’s the running knee to Wheeler. Briscoe fights up to slug away at Moxley and Danielson but Castagnoli comes in with a Neutralizer for two. FTR is back in and a triple Shatter Machine gets the same on Castagnoli. The Jay Driller is broken up and the triple stomping has Briscoe down again.

The Club tries its own Doomsday Device but it gets broken up, meaning the brawl heads to the floor….where it’s a double countout at 19:17. Briscoe is NOT having that though and yeah we’re restarting it….as a Fight Without Honor (street fight, which I believe it was advertised as in advance). The fight is on in the crowd until Briscoe and Moxley head inside. The bloody Briscoe sends him outside and uses a chair for a step up flip dive. FTR loads up a table but let’s bring out a barbed wire ladder instead.

Moxley uses a fork on Harwood’s eye, followed by a curb stomp onto a chair back inside. Danielson is back in for a LeBell Lock to Wheeler, with Moxley adding barbed wire across the eyes. Briscoe makes the save but Moxley grabs a choke. Harwood makes the save this time so let’s throw in a bunch of chairs. A spike piledriver onto the chairs is broken up so Moxley is piledriven off the apron through a board covered in tacks. Danielson kicks away at Briscoe, who isn’t overly impressed. Briscoe fights up and hits a Jay Driller onto the chairs to finish Danielson at about 31:15 overall.

Rating: B. Yeah it was a mess and I’m not sure what was going on with the rules, but my goodness this was an entertaining fight. Much like the opener, they weren’t going for some classic match here as this was more about people beating the fire out of each other until one of them couldn’t get up anymore. At the very least, it’s great to see Briscoe getting a big win and I’m sure Danielson was more than happy to let him get something that big. Heck of a fight here, which was what they were trying to do.

Eddie Kingston vs. Anthony Henry

Non-title Proving Ground match, meaning if Henry wins or survives the ten minute time limit, he gets a future title shot. They start fast and fight out to the floor, where Henry hits a running boot against the barricade. Back in and a double stomp gives Henry two, followed by another kick for two. Kingston gets up and they chop it out, with Kingston snapping o the rapid fire corner chops. Henry is right back with an enziguri into a German suplex for two and they both need a breather. A top rope double stomp misses though and Kingston hits the spinning backfist. The stretch plum finishes Henry at 5:42.

Rating: C. It was a fine match but it’s a Proving Ground match, which has so far been a guaranteed win for the champion. I like the idea of Kingston being on the show, but it would have been nice to have something better for him than a midcard tag wrestler. It wasn’t exactly must see either, but at least they kept it short.

We recap the main event, with Athena defending the Women’s Title against Billie Starkz. Athena was training her as a minion but Starkz rebelled, setting up the title match. Athena has also added that she’s gone if she loses.

Ring Of Honor Women’s Title: Athena vs. Billie Starkz

Athena, the hometown star with a broken nose, is defending. Starkz knocks her fast into the corner and they fight out to the floor. Athena sends Starkz face first into the barricade a few times, with Starkz coming up bleeding. Back in and Athena keeps up the beating, including a neck crank as the blood continues to flow. Starkz gets sent to the floor as this has been much more of a brawl than a match so far.

Athena cuts off a comeback attempt but Starkz fights out of the Tree of Woe and suplexes her into the corner. They both mix kicks to the face before Starkz grabs a dragon suplex. Starkz spears her down and pulls off the mask, setting up some less than great looking forearms. The Swanton connects for two so Athena goes outside, with Starkz hitting a suicide dive into the barricade.

Athena gets in a shot of her own and loads up the announcers’ table but Starkz suplexes her down to the floor. A fireman’s carry is escaped and Starkz pulls her down by the hair. They fight onto the barricade again and it’s a reverse Sling Blade to send Starkz face first onto the floor. It’s time to really try something new so they head back inside for a top rope German superplex for two on Starkz. Back up and the ref gets bumped so Athena asks guest ring announcer (and head Minion) Lexi Nair to hand her the title.

Starkz dropkicks Athena into Nair and Starkz’s End gets two. Back up again and they fight to the apron, where Starkz hits an electric chair driver to knock Athena silly on the floor. The Swanton misses back inside and Athena punches her in the face for a double knockdown. Athena wins a slugout and hits Despicable Knee for two. They trade some rollups for two each until Athena ties her up in something like a modified Octopus hold for the tap to retain at 28:21.

Rating: B. I would bet that this had to be more of a brawl than a match due to the injury, as the style let Athena take a few long breaks in there. Other than that….my goodness who is left to take the title from Athena? This is the match that has been built up for months now and, again, Athena just retains. I’m not sure who in the world is supposed to take the title from her, but it might not be happening for a bit. It’s cool to see a milestone like the women headlining, but it would also be cool to see a heel lose a major title match around here.

Post match Starkz goes to leave but Athena pulls her back. Starkz shows respect and poses with Athena and Nair to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Wow indeed. This show, counting the Zero Hour (which I do as it was advertised and played a role in the show, plus it’s playing if you go to watch Final Battle on Honor Club), was over five hours and, as tends to be the case, the good guys/women didn’t do very well in title matches. Ring Of Honor has a really bad record of pulling the trigger on a big title change (the biggest they’ve had in months, with Eddie Kingston, wasn’t even in ROH) and that was the case again here. There were some nice moments like the six man and Lee/Taylor making up, but those were pretty few and far between.

As has been the case for months, the wrestling is far from the problem around here. Instead, the problem is in how everything is thrown together with SO MUCH CONTENT included. This show had five matches added the day of the show and even more that were only added within the last two days. That doesn’t leave me wanting to see more ROH, but rather hoping that they never do that again. The weekly show continues to feel mostly disconnected to the PPVs and there is no reason to believe that will change.

Overall, it’s a good show because the wrestlers are so talented, but this was another pay per view that felt like it was thrown together at the last minute, with Tony Khan adding whatever came to his head in the car that morning. Ring Of Honor isn’t enjoyable to watch most of the time and a lot of the reasons why were on display here. As usual it isn’t about the action, which is strong, but the way that action is presented. Fix that and you have a heck of a show, but otherwise, you have a big mess which just keeps going.

Results
Taya Valkyrie b. Jazmin Allure – Curb Stomp
Von Erichs b. Outrunners – Double Iron Claws
Bryan Keith b. Jack Cartwheel – Tiger driver
Daniel Garcia b. Blake Christian – Dragon Tamer
El Hijo del Vikingo b. Black Taurus – 630
Mogul Embassy b. TMDK – Toss sitout powerbomb to Fujita
Ethan Page b. Tony Nese – Choke with handcuffs
Nyla Rose b. Vertvixen – Beast Bomb
Kyle Fletcher won Survival Of The Fittest last eliminating Komander
Wheeler Yuta b. Tom Lawlor – Seat belt
Keith Lee b. Shane Taylor – Big Bang Catastrophe
Mark Briscoe/FTR b. Blackpool Combat Club – Jay Driller to Danielson on a pile of chairs
Eddie Kingston b. Anthony Henry – Stretch plum
Athena b. Billie Starkz – Octopus hold

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Bangerz Only
Date: April 2, 2022
Location: Fair Park, Dallas, Texas
Commentators: Denise Salcedo, Sam Leterna, Veda Scott

This is from Mission Pro Wrestling, an all women’s promotion owned by AEW Thunder Rosa, from over Wrestlemania weekend. That means we should be in for a fun show which likely includes a fair few guest stars. I have no idea what to expect from this show and that is a nice feeling, as it could be a little bit of anything. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Shazza McKenzie vs. Janai Kai

Kai has been on AEW before. They go with the mat grappling to start as Scott can’t remember if she turned on McKenzie when they were teaming together or not (she did). The grapple off goes to Kai, who takes her to the mat for some kicks to the mat. Back up and McKenzie strikes away as well before kicking her in the face. Kai is right back with some kicks of her own to strike McKenzie down as commentary rapid fires what these two have been doing lately.

Something like a seated dragon sleeper has McKenzie in trouble until she fights up for stereo kicks and a double knockdown. McKenzie hits some running knees to the back and ties her in the ropes for kicks to the chest. Back in and Kai sweeps the leg for two but gets caught in the Shamission (seated crossface chickenwing), only to grab the rope. Kai is right back up with a spinning kick to the face for the pin at 8:42.

Rating: C+. This was a fast paced opener and it seems that they are going to be focusing on a lot of striking and submission stuff, making this in fact a modern independent style show. McKenzie has been around for a good while and I’ve seen some of Kai, so this wasn’t exactly a surprise. Good enough here, though I don’t know if it was quite a BANGER(Z).

Allie Katch vs. JP Harlow

So Harlow, with Ayla Fox (evil manager/agent), is a man and therefore a major heel around here. Katch goes after the arm to start and headlock takeovers him down. Ayla grabs a trip from the floor though and it’s enough for Harlow to kick the rope low to takeover. Corner stomping keeps Katch down but Harlow misses a charge, only to backdrop his way out of trouble.

A Death Valley Driver gets two more and it’s time to stand on Katch’s hair. Ayla gets in some choking from the floor but Katch is fine enough to jawbreak her way to freedom. The running hip attack in the corner sets up a Cannonball for two on Harlow but he’s right back with a DDT out of the corner. Back up and Harlow almost runs into an interfering Ayla, allowing Katch to grab a piledriver for the pin at 8:21.

Rating: C. Katch is someone who has been around this circuit for a long time and she does have the abilities to stay interesting in most of the matches I’ve seen from her. Harlow being around was more than a little weird but it does make for a good heel. Giving the fans something to cheer about is a good way to go as they’re continuing with the nice start.

La Rosa Negra vs. Jody Threat

Rosa is rather bubbly and dances to the ring. They go to the mat to start with Rosa rolling her up for two as we hear about Threat eating Big Macs and working out. Rosa’s headscissors keeps Threat in trouble but she reverses into a cross armbreaker, sending Rosa to the ropes. Rosa is right back with her own cross armbreaker, sending Threat to the ropes for her own break.

Threat is sent to the apron and manages to kick Rosa in the face to take over again. Back up and Rosa has to fight out of the corner before elbowing Threat down. An airplane spin and big kick to the head gives Rosa two, followed by a high crossbody for the same. Rosa knocks her to the floor for a suicide dive, then does it again for a bonus.

Threat elbows her way out of a fireman’s carry and hits a running flip attack off the apron. They both beat the count back in and slug it out until Threat’s neckbreaker gets two. Some kicks to Rosa’s face into a German suplex gives Threat two more but Rosa kicks her down. The frog splash connects but Threat rolls her up for the pin at 16:33.

Rating: C. This got a lot more time than the other matches so far and while it turned into a slugfest, a lot of it felt like two people just doing moves to each other until one of them got a pin. There wasn’t anything resembling a story or a flow to it and commentary’s main contribution was to say “that’s why they call Rosa” something in Spanish without actually saying what that means. Good power brawl, but it needed a lot of work.

The ring announcer thanks the fans for helping the show.

Bougie Reality vs. Bionic Kingdom

That would be Madi Wrenkowski/Rache Chanel vs. Jennacide/KiLynn King, some of whom you might know from AEW. Bionic King get guitared to the ring for a nice touch. King and Madi start things off with an exchange of shoulders going nowhere. The bigger King runs Madi over and it’s off to Chanel for a change. Chanel gets taken into the corner so Jennacide can chop away as everything breaks down.

Reality is whipped into each other and stereo facebusters give King an early two. Back up and Reality manages to get them both into the ropes, meaning laughing/choking can ensue. We settle down to Madi working on King’s leg in the corner and we hit the leglock. King fights up and hits some knees but hurts herself in the process, meaning Reality keeps her down in the corner.

A World’s Strongest Slam gets King out of trouble and there’s the much needed tag to Jennacide. Everything breaks down and something like an F5 gets two on Madi. A backbreaker plants Madi but she rakes the eyes to get out of an electric chair. Back up and a Codebreaker into a scissors kick Stomp (the Reality Check) finishes Jennacide at 11:25.

Rating: B-. I liked this one as you could tell a bit more of a story out of the whole thing. Both teams felt like people who had worked together before and they had a nice match at the same time. King and Chanel have both worked on bigger stages and it is easy to see that they are above a lot of the talent on this show. Good match here and the best part of the show so far.

Lindsay Snow vs. Masha Slamovich

Snow is back after a long absence and Slamovich is a monster. They go right to the slugout to start with Snow screaming as she hits a clothesline. Slamovich is sent outside where she kicks Snow in the back a few times before ramming her ribs first into the apron (which may or may not have been due to not being able to pull off an apron bomb). Back in and Snow grabs a kneebar to take over, which is broken up by a rake of the eyes.

Some heavy forearms keep Snow down but she is back up with a DDT for a double knockdown. Snow hits a running knee for two, followed by Slamovich hitting a German suplex for the same. Slamovich kicks her hard in the head for two more and heads up top, where Snow gets in a kick to the head. A MuscleBuster finishes Slamovich at 6:35.

Rating: C+. This was the slugfest match but it just ended all of a sudden. I’m not sure why they went home out of nowhere like that but it did seem like they were wrapping it up. I can go for that with a more physical match like this one but it was still rather quick. Snow is someone I’ve heard of before but never actually seen and she was good enough that I would take another look.

Renegade Twins/Jazmin Allure vs. The Hex/Laynie Luck

The Hex is Allysin Kay/Marti Belle (NWA Women’s Tag Team Champions) while the Renegades (Charlotte/Robyn) are the Mission Pro Wrestling Tag Team Champions. They talk a lot of trash at each other to start until it’s Kay vs. Robyn to get things going. Kay takes her down into an early chinlock, which is turned into a slugout out the mat. That’s broken up so Kay grabs a rollup for two, with Allure making a save.

Everything breaks down and Luck dives onto the Renegades. Allure comes in and gets Three Amigoed by Belle, setting up some running shots in the corner by the Hex. It’s back to Robyn as everything breaks down again, with Belle getting taken down in the corner for a change. The villains (I think?) take turns stomping away, which sets up a Boston crab/camel clutch/running dropkick combination (didn’t quite get the timing right as the two holds weren’t on at once but it was a cool idea).

Belle gets stomped again but manages to counter a double suplex by sending Robyn’s leg into Charlotte. That’s enough to get over for the hot tag off to Kay to clean house with the expected shots to the face. Kay keeps slugging away despite having Allure on her back before handing it off to Luck. Everything breaks down again as Veda thinks this should just be a tornado tag match. Luck full nelson slams Allure for two and everyone is down. We get a crash off the corner, leaving Allure to faceplant Luck and put her feet on the ropes for the pin at 14:24.

Rating: B-. This was an entertaining match as you can see that the Twins and the Hex both work well together. Allure felt like someone who could be a star down the line so giving her the win was a nice way to go. Throw in some cheating for the finish and I liked what we got here, as everyone was putting in the effort and came off well.

Thunder Rosa vs. Trish Adora

Rosa’s AEW Women’s Title isn’t on the line. They fight over an armbar to start before heading to the mat with neither being able to get anywhere. Adora takes her down with a top wristlock so Rosa bridges off the mat over and over. With that not going anywhere, they’re up for a standoff until Rosa kicks her down for two.

Some elbows to the chest look to set up a Gory Bomb but Adora slips out and chops away. Adora takes her down and cranks on both arms, including some kicks to the back. Rosa is right back up with a Rocking Horse (something like a surfboard but with Rosa standing and swinging Adora back and forth) but since that can’t last long, Adora is back up with a running crossbody.

A Stunner rocks Adora and a sliding dropkick against the ropes gets two. Adora is back with a Samoan drop for two before grabbing Cattle Mutilation of all things. Rosa makes the ropes and grabs a Gory Bomb for two, followed by a DDT for the same. They trade rollups for two each until Rosa grabs….well it looks like the ending of a piledriver with Adora sitting on her head as Rosa cranks on the I think neck to make Adora tap at 16:20.

Rating: B. The ending was weird enough (with commentary saying it was a bit confusing) but they were beating on each other and trading big shots for a long time on the way there. It did feel like a big fight and it was billed as a first time ever showdown so it did live up to the hype, even with the kind of confusing finish.

Mission Pro Wrestling Title: Holidead vs. LuFisto

Holidead is defending and this is No DQ. Holidead starts fast by taking her down and dropping a leg for two. That’s enough for LuFisto to send her to the apron though, setting up a running kick to put the champ on the floor. Some hard kicks drop Holidead and it’s time for the first door to be brought in. Rather than use that though, LuFisto sets up a bunch of chairs on the floor instead.

A suplex onto the chairs doesn’t work as Holidead fights back up and forearms away but misses an apron legdrop. Back in and LuFisto elbows away before loading up the door in the corner. Holidead bites at LuFisto’s head and hits a dive onto…LuFisto and the members of the production crew that had been dragged in.

Back in and a swinging Downward Spiral gives Holidead two, only to be sent into the corner. LuFisto hits a Cannonball into a corner and a suplex through the door for two. Holidead’s Samoan drop onto the chairs for two but she can’t put LuFisto through another door. InHolidead kicks a chair into her head and hits a running spinebuster through the door to retain at 17:36.

Rating: C+. This had me worried about it turning into deathmatch and total garbage stuff but I can live with some chairs and doors. They beat on each other well enough and it turned into a good brawl. I’m not sure if that is enough to warrant it headlining over Rosa vs. Adora, but I get the idea of going with the title match/not the owner. Good enough main event, though I’m not sure why this needed to be No DQ.

Post match Holidead puts over LuFisto and thanks the fans. Mission Pro will continue to put on BANGERS ONLY.

Overall Rating: B. Another good but not blowaway show from the weekend, this time featuring a unique roster. It’s still kind of amazing that women’s wrestling has come far enough to be able to run a full on show like this without having anything that was bad, or really even close to it. There are some solid matches on here and the two hours and twenty plus minutes went by pretty fast. I liked this one and if you’re looking for a women’s promotion, you could certainly find worse.

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Dynamite
Date: May 12, 2021
Location: Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
Commentators: Excalibur, Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone

We’re officially done with Blood & Guts, meaning that it is time to start up the fallout. At the same time, we have three shows left before Double Or Nothing and the card has barely been started so AEW might want to get around to that. Thankfully we are going to find out the #1 contender tonight, as Pac and Orange Cassidy face off for the right to challenge Kenny Omega. I’m sure it makes sense somehow. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

New Japan United States Title: Yuji Nagata vs. Jon Moxley

Moxley is defending and Excalibur dives right in to listing off various Japanese legends that Nagata has been associated with over the years. Moxley comes out to Wild Thing, which I’m assuming is his music in New Japan or something. Nagata knees him in the ribs to start and they head outside to keep up the brawling. Back in and Moxley clotheslines away in the corner, followed by a running knee to the seated chest.

There’s a kick to the chest for two more, only to have Nagata kick even more. An exploder gets two on Moxley, who is right back with a German suplex into the running lariat for two. More kicks put Moxley down for another two and the seated armbar goes on. Moxley makes the rope and comes back with a basement clothesline for two more. The Paradigm Shift retains the title at 8:28.

Rating: C+. This was certainly fine enough and I’m sure Moxley got to have a lot of fun out there. They didn’t overstay their welcome whatsoever and it was a fine way to appeal to the New Japan fans who are already watching the show. Thankfully they didn’t waste too much time on the guest star match, so it isn’t exactly something worth complaining about.

Post match Moxley bows in respect to Nagata, who does the same thing right back.

We run down the card.

Most of the Inner Circle knows that they had the Pinnacle beaten but let it slip away. Then MJF showed his true colors by having Santana detained for using a fork on him last week. They’re still alive, so the Pinnacle failed last week and now the Inner Circle wants a rematch. If they don’t get one, tonight’s coronation of the Pinnacle is going to be their funeral. If only there was a pay per view coming up to host that big gimmick match, or say the full return of fans in less than two months.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a big announcement. Cody talks about how it is fun to be an American and even though there are various problems with the country, he has never not been proud to be an American. Then you have Anthony Ogogo, who spends all of his time trash talking America. That’s fine because it is his freedom to do so, because he has a visa from the United States.

America is a place where the dream lives, from an Italian immigrant being World Heavyweight Champion for over 4000 days to a 16 year old boy from Pakistan coming to America, inventing a new kind of bumper, and changing the lives of everyone in this city (speaking about Tony Khan’s father Shad). There was segregation in Atlanta until the early 1960s and now in that same city, his wife is going to give birth to a beautiful daughter who is both black and white. Therefore, it is time to fight at Double Or Nothing, where the full capacity audience will see the return of the American Dream, when he faces Ogogo.

This was a heck of a promo from Cody, even if turning him into the All American after having a flag draped over him might be a bit of a jump. That being said, the American Dream deal should be a rather nice moment and it is Dusty’s son, so it isn’t like trying to make someone into a Dusty knockoff with no reason. It might be a stretch in some ways, but it’s close enough that it counts.

Video on SCU being friends with the Young Bucks, but then everything fell apart.

Tag Team Titles: SCU vs. Young Bucks

SCU is challenging, with JR pointing out that they have been #1 contenders for ten weeks, making me wonder why they needed to win a #1 contenders match last week. Also, if SCU lose, they’re done as a team. Kazarian takes Matt down to start and it’s a clothesline/belly to back suplex combination to drop Matt again. Nick gets kicked in the chest and clotheslined in the back of the head but manages to take Daniels outside. A powerbomb onto the apron has Daniels down as we take a break.

Back with SCU hitting Celebrity Rehab on Nick but Matt breaks up the Best Meltzer Ever. Daniels gets posted to open him up badly, leaving Kazarian to pull Nick in for the slingshot cutter. A northern lights suplex gets two on Matt, with Kazarian being sure they had the pin. Kazarian gets a rollup but Doc Gallows offers a distraction (JR: “Why would you want to converse that long with Doc Gallows?”) to break up the count.

Kazarian hits a Styles Clash for two, drawing an AJ Styles chant, which might not be the desired result. A superkick into a Tombstone into a knee gets two with Daniels finally getting back in for the save. Angel’s Wings hits Nick to send him outside and Daniels pulls Kazarian to the corner for the tag. Matt spears Daniels down and hammers away at the eye, drawing even more blood.

The Angel’s Wings doesn’t work due tot he blood loss and Daniels can barely pull himself up. Matt: “I’m sorry, I love you”. The superkick gets two but Daniels is back with the release Rock Bottom. The BME connects (after Daniels slips on the first attempt) for two with Nick making the save. Matt busts out some cold spray to the eyes and hits him in the head with the can for the next near fall. The BTE Trigger retains the titles at 13:50.

Rating: B. This was the kind of match they needed to have and SCU gets to go out with a rather good showcase. I’m kind of glad they didn’t end with the weapon shot, as it would have been as cliched as you could get, and Daniels being busted open but still fighting told a good story. This was a solid match and in a way, it is good to get rid of SCU as the tag division has way too many teams at the moment.

Post match SCU is stunned but we need to cut to the back where Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston wreck the Elite’s dressing room.

During the break, SCU has a big emotional hug goodbye. Heaven forbid we show THAT live instead of Moxley and Kingston throwing a bunch of stuff.

Christian doesn’t think much of Taz critiquing him, because it has as much weight as someone critiquing Taz at a buffet table. Next week, Christian has an open contract to face any member of Team Taz before he moves on to the Casino Battle Royal at Double Or Nothing (it wouldn’t be a pay per view without a battle royal or ladder match). Matt Sydal interrupts to say not so fast, because he has signed up to face Christian next week and then is going on to win the battle royal.

Pac vs. Orange Cassidy

For the World Title shot at Double Or Nothing. Pac takes the sunglasses to start and breaks them up, meaning it’s a Beach Break for a very early two. Cassidy sends him outside for a suicide dive and busts out a backup pair of sunglasses. We take a break and come back with Cassidy being sent hard into the barricade, followed by a dropkick to turn him inside out.

There’s a missile dropkick to put Cassidy down again so Pac loads up the Black Arrow. Hold on though as Cassidy rolls under the corner and poses up at Pac, who hits a heck of a Liger Bomb for two. We take another break and come back with Cassidy down so Don Callis comes out (because of course he does) to say Pac needs to pick up the pace. Cue Kenny Omega with the belt shot to Pac, giving us a double countout at 14:03.

Rating: C. And now we get the triple threat match because that’s what happens in a situation like this. It’s not the worst idea to go that way but at least they didn’t have Cassidy get some fluke win. The match was fine enough and the ending sets up a logical title match, though it wasn’t exactly an original way to go.

Post match Callis says Omega is getting a night off at Double Or Nothing so it’s time for a road trip. Tony Schiavone announces the triple threat title match. Omega: “YOU DON’T KNOW ME! YOU GOT NO POWER OVER ME! YOU DON’T KNOW ME!” This is as cliched of an announcement as you can get, though seeing heels stunned by never learning can be a little funny.

The Good Brothers and the Young Bucks are livid over their dressing room being destroyed, but the Bucks would rather brag about getting rid of SCU. They’ll defend the titles against the Varsity Blonds next week and then, as humble Christian men, invite Moxley and Kingston to a superkick party at Double or Nothing.

The Dark Order promises to get Hangman Page back on top of the rankings but Page thinks it was Taz helping Brian Cage beat him. So how about Taz stays in the back and it’s one on one, which makes it double or nothing for Cage. John Silver: “That’s the name of the pay per view! Did you do that on purpose???”

Here is the Pinnacle for the coronation, with MJF (in a pink suit) wearing a crown. MJF: “Don’t boo people! BOW!” We hear about the ratings success, including Shawn Spears helping them get some rather good numbers in Canada. But sure, the Inner Circle wants a rematch…..and he says no. Tully Blanchard talks about being on top before and they were there again last week.

The Pinnacle took everything the Inner Circle had and then saw the Inner Circle give up to save Chris Jericho. When you quit, you just quit and leave the Pinnacle at the top of the world. Tully even has a gift for them: some very expensive watches, to remind them of when they were at the top of the world. Cue the Inner Circle in a jeep with a trailer (because this company LOVES having someone drive in), with Chris Jericho popping out. His arm is in a big cast but he still wants a rematch, which MJF declines again.

Sammy Guevara sprays them down with A Little Bit Of The Bubbly from a water cannon and everyone is soaked. Then they honk the horn a lot until MJF agrees to Stadium Stampede II at Double Or Nothing. We’ll throw in a bonus though: if the Inner Circle loses, they have to break up forever. Jericho pauses a bit on that one and the match isn’t official yet. This might have had a bit more impact if we hadn’t had SCU being forced to break up after losing about 45 minutes ago. Or if Kurt Angle/Steve Austin hadn’t done the truck thing better with milk/beer.

Britt Baker is ready to win the Women’s Title because she isn’t letting the pain from a broken face last year break her. It’s poetic that Hikaru Shida broke her face and now Baker is going to take the title from her. We see clips of Baker breaking up the AEW photo shoot for Forbes Magazine and Baker promises to win the title.

Thunder Rosa vs. Jazmin Allure

Rosa throws her into the corner to start and hammers away, setting up the running dropkick into the corner. A shoulder breaker into the Fire Thunder Driver finishes Allure at 1:53.

Here’s what’s coming next week and at Double Or Nothing.

We look at Mark Sterling, formerly MJF’s agent, pitching his services to Jade Cargill.

Jade says she handles her own business and is that b****.

Darby Allin is back in Seattle to remember how far he has come. He has seen Miro go from a gamer to a best man and now he is coming for the title. Win or lose, Miro is going to admit that Allin is one of the toughest men he has ever faced.

TNT Title: Miro vs. Darby Allin

Allin is defending and Miro jumps him before the bell, with the beating being on in a hurry. They head outside with Allin being posted and then sent over the barricade. A suplex sends Allin back to ringside and they head outside, where Allin says ring the bell. Miro superkicks him for two and they head outside with Allin nailing some shotgun dropkicks. The suicide dive drops Miro (and it was a great one) but he throws Allin with a suplex and we take a break.

Back with Allin in trouble and Sting down thanks to Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page taking out his knee during the break. Another suplex sends Allin into the corner but Allin manages to grab a choke. He jumps on Miro’s back and they head outside with Allin grabbing the nose (sounds dumb but it’s smart when you think about it), only to be driven hard into the barricade.

Back in and Sting (fine after the jumping) fires Allin up enough to start the comeback, including the flipping Stunner for two. A pop up powerslam is countered into another flipping Stunner but the Coffin Drop is countered into a German suplex, with Allin backflipping onto his feet. The Code Red gets two but Miro pulls him into the Game Over and wrenches all the way back for the stoppage and the title at 14:48.

Rating: B+. The wrestling itself wasn’t the best (though it worked) but this was all about the storytelling, with Allin fighting until the bitter end but not being able to overcome the monster. That is a story that will always work and Allin is one of the easiest guys in the world to get behind given his size and willingness to give it everything he has. I had a really good time with this and it was the only possible ending.

Post match Page and Sky jump Sting again (as the first one didn’t quite take) so the Dark Order runs out to chase them off. Miro celebrates but Lance Archer comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: B. Another good show here, with the wrestling being good to very good throughout and the rapid fire build towards Double Or Nothing beginning. That has been needed and while the card still has some work to do, the core is right there. They still need to slow down on a few things and cut out some of the 80s/90s tributes, but overall, it is a fast paced show and the kind of entertaining night that you know you’re going to get from AEW.

Results

Jon Moxley b. Yuji Nagata – Paradigm Shift

Young Bucks b. SCU – BTE Trigger to Daniels

Pac vs. Orange Cassidy went to a double countout

Thunder Rosa b. Jazmin Allure – Fire Thunder Driver

Miro b. Darby Allin – Game Over

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

AND

Remember to check out Wrestlingrumors.net for all of your wrestling headline needs.